No deal is still

● Eurosceptic Tories poised to rebel in vote over motion

Downing Street has denied that Theresa May is taking a no-deal Brexit off the table. Eurosceptic Tories are threatening to rebel in a vote today over a motion tabled in the prime minister’s name which they claim would commit her to avoiding EU withdrawal without a deal.

One member of the European Research Group said: “We told the government very clearly last night that we will not support this motion and in fact we urged them, indeed pleaded with them at senior level, to withdraw it yesterday – but they took absolutely no notice. Frankly, we despair.”

Mrs May’s spokesman said: “No-deal is an eventuality we wish to avoid, but one we continue to plan for. Does no-deal remain on the table? The answer is yes.”

He declined to discuss reports that senior negotiator Olly Robbins was overheard in a Brussels bar saying Mrs May planned to wait until the end of March before confronting MPs with a choice of her deal or a lengthy delay to Brexit.

But in the Commons Mrs May insisted: “This House voted to trigger Article 50. That had a two-year timeline. That ends on March 29. We want to leave with a deal. That is what we are working for.”

Meanwhile, Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer said Labour was committed to preventing Mrs May from pursuing a “reckless” policy of running down the clock to the point where MPs may be faced with a choice between her deal or no-deal with just days to go to the March 29 deadline.

Labour has tabled an amendment which would require the government to either put her deal to a vote by February 27 or allow parliament to take control of the process.

Sir Keir said Labour would also support a proposal from backbencher Yvette Cooper that would require a vote by the middle of March on delaying Brexit.

Veteran Tory Europhile Kenneth Clarke has tabled a further amendment, backed by senior figures from across the House including Harriet Harman, which would let MPs vote for their preferred outcome.

An amendment from Labour MP Roger Godsiff calls for an extension of the twoyear Brexit negotiation period to allow for a second referendum.

Another tabled by the SNP’s Angus

“What the prime minister is up to is obvious”

MacNeil calls on Mrs May simply to revoke the Article 50 letter informing the EU of Britain’s intention to leave.

Sir Keir was meeting Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay and Mrs May’s effective deputy David Lidington for talks yesterday.

“What the prime minister is up to is obvious,” Sir Keir said in an interview.

“She’s coming to parliament every other week, pretending there’s progress and trying to buy another two weeks, edging her way towards March 21, when the next EU summit is, to try to put her deal up against no-deal in those final few weeks.

“Parliament needs to say ‘That’s not on’.”