Does the government’s Commons defeat mean Brexit can be stopped?

How big of a deal is the defeat on a so-called “meaningful vote” on the exit agreement?

The government has suffered its first big defeat in parliament since the election, after MPs voted narrowly to secure ministers’ guarantee of a meaningful vote on the Brexit deal in law.

There are a few minor subplots to note. The first is that when the question is one of scrutiny rather than anything that could actually stop Brexit, Labour can hold its MPs together. Of the Labour leavers, just Kate Hoey and Frank Field voted with the government.