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Labour has launched a bid to FORCE Theresa May not to delay her crunch Brexit vote until the last minute.

Just 47 days before we leave, the party will this week try to bind the Prime Minister to let MPs have their say no later than February 26.

It comes amid reports she plans to run down the clock to just 72 hours before exit day.

The PM might have to stitch up agreement at an EU summit on March 22. That could be followed by a Commons statement on Monday 25 March - and a final vote by MPs only after that.

Remainer MPs claim this would be "blackmailing" them into accepting the Prime Minister's deal or no deal at all.

The UK leaves at 11pm on March 29, but the first meaningful vote on the Brexit deal suffered a record defeat last month.

This week, No10 refused to deny the next key vote will be pushed back into March - sparking fears of an 11th-hour vote.

(Image: Getty Images)

And Downing Street admitted further talks with the EU are only scheduled by the "end of February."

So Labour will now table an amendment seeking to force the Prime Minister to hold a "meaningful vote" on her revised deal by February 26.

Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer told the Sunday Times today: "There meeds to be a day when parliament says that's it, enough is enough.

"We have got to put a hard stop into this running down the clock. And that's what we want to do this week."

(Image: NEIL HALL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

In response today, Communities Secretary James Brokenshire promised another vote by MPs if that meaningful vote has not happened by February 27.

But his olive branch was set to wilt after he made clear the new vote will NOT itself be a meaningful vote on the Brexit deal.

And once again he refused to rule out that final vote only happening in March.

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Talks are still in deadlock as EU chiefs refuse Mrs May's demand to re-open talks on the 585-page Brexit deal - including a 'backstop' that would trap the UK under EU customs rules from 2021.

She wants a time limit, exit clause or "alternative arrangements" to the backstop after MPs defeated it, but she's now biding her time after the EU said no.

CBI director Carolyn Fairbairn today told Sky News the "parliamentary process is in logjam" and "that prospect of no deal feels much higher".

(Image: Jack Taylor)

The vote on Labour's amendment would likely be held on the evening of this Thursday, February 14, in a loveless Valentine's Day for the Prime Minister.

MPs will put forward a string of potential changes to her Brexit strategy in a re-run of a Parliamentary showdown that she scraped through two weeks earlier.

Mrs May will face other Commons challenges - including a bid to delay Brexit.

Commons Speaker John Bercow was spotted this week having a curry with Tory Remainer Ken Clarke.

And Labour MP Yvette Cooper today warned she is prepared to put through a "revised" version of her Bill to delay the March 29 leaving date.

Yet Ms Cooper's bid failed two weeks ago thanks to 25 Labour rebels failing to support it.

Meanwhile Jeremy Corbyn has offered to support Mrs May in getting a Brexit deal through Parliament - if she U-turns and backs his idea of a customs union.

(Image: PA)

The offer angered some Labour MPs who want a second EU referendum instead.

Theresa May has said she does not want a customs union with the EU, but has not ruled it out.

Today Mr Brokenshire refused to rule out accepting a customs union, saying "we want to continue discussion" about getting a deal through.

But Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss today refused twice to rule out resigning if the government backs a Customs Union.

She told Sky News: "I absolutely do not think that should be our policy."

(Image: Getty Images) (Image: PA)

Mr Corbyn, who has written to the Prime Minister setting out his demands for a Brexit deal he could support, accused Mrs May yesterday of an "utterly cynical" approach.

In a speech in Coventry he said Labour's plan "could win the support of Parliament and bring the country together" but Mrs May has so far "chosen the path of division".

"If she is unable to adopt a sensible deal because it would split the Tories, then the answer is quite simple: there must be a general election," Mr Corbyn said.

Meanwhile, Tony Blair warned a no-deal Brexit could be “devastating” for the Northern Ireland peace process. The former Prime Minister told Sky News it would lead to a “really hard border” between Northern Ireland and the Republic.