Your morning Briefing: Humiliating defeat for May, now vote of no confidence

Your 2-minute digest of today’s top stories and must-reads.

Good morning readers. After an historic defeat of 432 to 202 for Theresa May on Brexit, Jeremy Corbyn has tabled a vote of no confidence, and Pat Cash says Tomic’s Hewitt wildcard claims should be probed.

In this grab taken from video, Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May listens to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn speaking after losing a vote on her Brexit deal, in the House of Commons, London, Tuesday Jan. 15, 2019. British lawmakers have plunged Brexit into chaos and the U.K. politics into crisis by rejecting Prime Minister Theresa May's divorce deal with the European Union. The 432 to 202 vote in the House of Commons was widely expected but still devastating for May, whose fragile leadership is now under siege. (House of Commons/PA via AP)

Humiliation for May

Britain’s most significant parliamentary vote in decades has resulted in a humiliating defeat for prime minister Theresa May and the tabling of a motion of no confidence in her government. Mrs May’s controversial Brexit Withdrawal Bill attracted only 202 votes for, with 432 against. The extraordinary margin of 230 was a record breaking number in the history of the parliament, with the only comparison being in 1924 when the minority Labour government of Ramsay MacDonald lost a series of votes, including one by a margin of 166. Keep up with the latest in our live Brexit blog.

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Australian Opposition Leader Bill Shorten addresses the media at Albert Park, Melbourne, Sunday, January 13, 2019. Mr Shorten has made an announcement pledging increased funding to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. (AAP Image/James Ross) NO ARCHIVING

Paying dividends

The guardians of some of the ­nation’s trillions of dollars in ­equities investments are adjusting their strategies in ­anticipation of a Shorten government, with the $360 million ­Mirrabooka fund yesterday paying a special dividend to shareholders six months early, ahead of Labor’s planned changes to franking credits.

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Greens Leader Richard Di Natale at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture Kym Smith

‘We’ll do ceremonies’

The Greens are attempting to short-circuit Scott Morrison’s protection of Australia Day citizenship celebrations by exploiting what they claim is a legal loophole that would enable their MPs to conduct ceremonies on behalf of protesting councils. But Australians have overwhelmingly rejected a push by the left-wing lobby to change the date of Australia Day, with almost 80 per cent of voters claiming to be proud to celebrate the landing of the First Fleet on January 26.

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15-01-19- David McKeague co-founder of Curious Thing with Jennifer Tsiknas of Afk Agency at "The Studio" a startup hub in Sydney. For story on tax rebate for research and Development. Picture Ryan Osland/The Australian

Hooked on tax

Australia’s tax treatment of new business investment is the third worst in the world, imposing punishing effective tax rates that can rise above 50 per cent, an OECD report shows.

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Australia's Nick Kyrgios hits a return against Canada's Milos Raonic during their men's singles match on day two of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 15, 2019. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE --

Probe Tomic claims: Cash

Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash has called for an ­investigation into Bernard Tomic’s incendiary allegations that Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt was favouring certain ­Australian players who were given lucrative wildcards into the Australian Open. Nick Kyrgios, meantime, was bundled out of the Australian Open by Canada’s Milos Raonic. Keep up with all the action from Melbourne in our live Australian Open blog.

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Kudelka’s view

Jon Kudelka letters cartoon for 16-01-2019Version: Letters Cartoon (1280x720 - Aspect ratio preserved, Canvas added)COPYRIGHT: The Australian's artists each have different copyright agreements in place regarding re-use of their work in other publications.Please seek advice from the artists themselves or the Managing Editor of The Australian regarding re-use.