12:35

Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson has an intriguing hunch about why the government was originally so keen to push the EU withdrawal bill through the Commons in a single day (a backlash later forced it to offer two). Could it have been clearing the decks for a critical report from the Electoral Commission about the role of some of Theresa May’s senior aides in the Vote Leave campaign?

Evidence from whistleblowers Chris Wylie and Sahmir Sanni appeared to suggest coordination between Vote Leave, the officially designated Brexit campaign, and the nominally separate BeLeave group. If the commission finds that Vote Leave was effectively directing the group of young Brexit campaigners, it could be a breach of election funding rules. The commission is believed to be examining the roles of May’s political secretary Stephen Parkinson, and Cleo Watson, another Number 10 adviser, both of whom held senior posts in Vote Leave - which was chaired by Michael Gove.

Those involved in Vote Leave have always strongly denied wrongdoing, insisting that Vote Leave and BeLeave were separate and that they acted in accordance with the rules.

The government has now confirmed to Labour MP Bridget Phillipson in a parliamentary question that those criticised in its ongoing investigation have been given 28 days’ warning of its findings. Rumours at Westminster suggest the report could be scheduled for publication on Wednesday - though the commission has not yet confirmed a date.

Watson said: