MPs have paved the way for Britain to leave the European Union as Whitehall sources made clear that a ‘UK approach’ to Brexit negotiations does not need the agreement of the Scottish Government.

The 'Brexit Bill' to begin exit talks with Brussels was overwhelmingly passed by 494 votes to 122.

Just one MP for a seat in Scotland, Scottish Secretary David Mundell, voted in favour of starting ‘divorce’ proceedings.

David Anderson, the Shadow Scottish Secretary, also voted in favour of the Bill.

But Labour was thrown into chaos for the second time in week, as a fifth shadow cabinet member resigned to defy Jeremy Corbyn and vote against triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.

However, a rebellion on Theresa May’s own backbenches was much smaller than predicted - with only former chancellor Ken Clarke opposing the government.

Before the final vote former First Minister Alex Salmond protested that Conservative ministers had “railroaded” the Bill through the Commons.

As MPs voted for the Bill, SNP MPs also briefly struck up a rendition of ‘Ode to Joy’, the European anthem, in the chamber.

Scottish Brexit minister Michael Russell said that the historic vote might “embolden Theresa May, but it will certainly weaken the hand of the UK Government in its negotiating if it thinks this empowers it to ignore the requirements, the needs, the essential interests of the devolved administrations.”

Mr Russell said that the views of the Scottish Government must be clearly reflected in the letter the UK Government sends to the EU officially triggering exit talks.

Earlier Mrs May told MPs that she was “working closely with the Scottish Government”.

But Whitehall sources made clear that a 'UK approach' to Brexit did not require the agreement of Scottish ministers.

While UK ministers would continue to seek agreement with the devolved administrations, it was not a prerequisite before Brexit talks with Brussels start.

Mr Russell accused the Conservative government of "changing the goal posts", which he said was "not a very helpful way of reaching a common position".

Triggering Article 50 kick-starts the official two-year exit negotiation process.

Earlier MPs had voted down a series of proposed amendments to the Bill.

Tory Brexit minister David Jones accused MPs of trying to “tie the hands” of the government.

But MPs protested that Mrs May had no mandate for her "hard Brexit" plan, in which immigration controls are championed over access to the single market.

Earlier, in an interview with the New Statesman, the Tory leader hit back at complaints from former Conservative chancellor George Osborne iover her attitude to the economy.

Mrs May rejected the idea, adding: “One of the problems with this debate about Brexit is that people look at too many aspects of it in a binary way.”

“What we say is: what is the outcome that we want to achieve? And it is possible to achieve an outcome which is both a good result for the economy and is a good result for people who want us to control immigration – to be able to set our own rules on the immigration of people coming from the European Union. It is perfectly possible to find an arrangement and a partnership with the EU which does that.”

The Bill faces further scrutiny in the Lords before it can become law.

Labour's only MP for a Scottish seat, Ian Murray, voted against the legislation.

His Edinburgh South constituency overwhelmingly voted to remain in the EU in last year’s referendum.

The only Liberal Democrat MP in Scotland Alistair Carmichael also voted against triggering Article 50, after MPs voted down an amendment designed to secure a second referendum on the terms of the UK’s ‘divorce’ from Brussels.

Earlier, Mr Russell hit out at what he said was the “glacial progress” being made in talks between the UK and Scottish Governments and said that there was no sign of compromise from UK ministers.

Mr Mundell said that there would be "continuing opportunities for the position to emerge as we move forward”.

The chancellor Philip Hammond attended the meeting to discuss the “UK-wide issue” of financial services.

The shadow business secretary Clive Lewis said that he had resigned with a “heavy heart”.

The Norwich MP said that he could not “in all good conscience, vote for something I believe will ultimately harm the city I have the honour to represent, love and call home”.

He added that it had been a “privilege” to work with Mr Corbyn.

The Labour leader thanked him for his work and said that he understood the “difficulties MPs representing constituencies which voted Remain have in relation to the European Union Withdrawal Bill. MPs have a duty to represent their constituents as well as their party.”

He added, however, that all Labour MPs had been asked to vote for the Bill as a mark of respect for the outcome of the referendum.