Labour is planning to delay a confidence vote in the Government until mid-September, in an apparent admission that support among Tory rebels has collapsed.

Whilst Jeremy Corbyn had been expected to table a motion immediately after the summer recess, Labour insiders have signalled a shift in strategy to let Remainer MPs first try to seize control of Parliamentary business.

Allies of the Labour leader fear that losing a vote immediately after MPs return from their holidays could be seen as a “show of weakness” and would leave him “exposed”.

On Saturday night party insiders told The Sunday Telegraph that serious consideration is being given to delaying the motion until after September 9, the day when Downing Street expects Europhile MPs will try to seize control.

Tory rebels including Dominic Grieve and Philip Hammond are expected to try and amend a motion on power-sharing in Northern Ireland to begin forcing through backbench legislation to block no-deal.