
Theresa May held an emergency Cabinet meeting this evening ahead of more Brexit talks with Labour tomorrow - as Philip Hammond left leavers apoplectic by saying a new public vote on leaving the EU would be 'perfectly credible'.

Cabinet ministers arrived at Number 10 at around 5pm for the meeting about how to break the Brexit deadlock. The Cabinet is split over how long an extension to ask the EU for, and it is believed this was discussed earlier this evening.

Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer confirmed talks with Theresa May will include the possibility of calling a second referendum as the price of Jeremy Corbyn's support for any deal.

Details of today's meeting emerging this evening revealed a 'confirmatory vote' and 'customs arrangements' were discussed.

The Guardian reports the Labour leader sent a note to MPs saying: 'Agenda items were customs arrangements, single market alignment including rights and protections, agencies and programmes, internal security, legal underpinning to any agreements and confirmatory vote.'

Mrs May may include a 'confirmatory vote' in a letter to Mr Corbyn which will set out their Brexit offer as early as tomorrow, according to reports.

Today remainers claimed victory as Mr Hammond called a second referendum 'perfectly credible' and admitted a customs union compromise would be a price worth paying for a deal with Labour.

No 10 then slapped down talk of a second referendum with the Prime Minister's Official spokesman saying: 'I read the Chancellor's comments as saying 'a credible proposition to be looked at by Parliament'. I'd point out Parliament has looked at this on a number of occasions and has rejected it'.

Mr Hammond's words also widened the Brexit fissure in the Cabinet with Health Secretary Matt Hancock distancing himself from Mr Hammond assertion on a second referendum saying: 'Well, that's certainly not how I would describe it'.

Sir Keir Starmer arrives at the Cabinet office for talks with the Tories and admits a second referendum is on the table

Theresa May (pictured today) is holding more talks with Jeremy Corbyn which have sparked uproar among Tory MPs and pushed two ministers into resigning and 15 more said to be on the brink

Mrs May is edging towards a softer Brexit agreement with the Labour Leader - despite warnings it would plunge the Tories into civil war - with negotiations continuing today.

Last night Mr Hammond also risked a Tory backlash as he said a 'confirmatory referendum' - on Mrs May's deal versus Remain - was a 'perfectly credible proposition.'

Spartan chief Steve Baker told MailOnline: 'The Chancellor has come up with about the stupidest suggestion I could imagine. Look at the rage and despair created by asking Parliament to choose between Brexit in name only or no Brexit, and then imagine the public reaction. Is he trying to destroy all faith in democracy?'.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WITH BREXIT? WEDNESDAY APRIL 10: EU SUMMIT Another summit with EU leaders – where May will ask for a new delay beyond April 12. May's new plan is to strike a cross-party consensus in London and persuade EU leaders it means the deal can be delivered in time for Brexit on May 22. She may have to accept a longer extension that means holding EU elections, as Brussels has made clear this is a red line - and will take a decision on delay without Britain and it must be unanimous. EU officials including Michel Barnier have warned that the risk of an accidental No Deal is increasing if May arrives with no plan. THURSDAY APRIL 11: PM'S FACES MPs Theresa May will return from Brussels with a likely nine to 12 month extension and will outline her plans in the the Commons in the wake of the EU summit. FRIDAY APRIL 12: BREXIT DAY Britain is due to leave the EU without a deal on this date if no delay is agreed. Advertisement

Attorney General Geoffrey Cox has also made the case for a customs union compromise, insisting it was 'not some kind of sell-out'.

Downing Street faced a growing revolt from senior Tories at the prospect of pushing through a soft Brexit deal with the help of Labour's 'Marxist' leader.

After two ministers resigned up to 15 more - five in the cabinet - are said to be close to quitting with Dr Liam Fox said to be 'on the edge' having told Tory MPs 'none' of the party's manifesto promises should be axed.

Eurosceptic Tory MPs also erupted last night after a Bill to delay Brexit and avoid No Deal was 'rammed through' the Commons in a single day by Labour remainer Yvette Cooper and Tory Sir Oliver Letwin by one vote, with 20 Tories helping it through by backing it or abstaining. 17 of those were ex-ministers.

After the Bill passed Tory ERG stalwart Mark Francois yelled: 'The public won't be impressed by this. Forgive them Father for they know not what they do'.

The PM's furious backbenchers are demanding a new vote to throw Mrs May out of No 10 - with up to 100 of her rank-and-file MPs said to be considering going on strike and abstaining in all Commons votes.

And scores of grassroots Tory members have been cutting up their membership cards in protest at Mrs May's Brexit olive branch to Mr Corbyn - who himself is facing a rebellion in his own party because his MPs want a second referendum.

Downing Street has denied as 'categorically untrue' a claim that there have been talks on creating a 'devolution lock' that would give Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast a veto on any future changes to the UK-EU relationship. Reports on BuzzFeed News say the idea is being examined.

Last night Chancellor Philip Hammond said a 'confirmatory' referendum on a Brexit deal was a 'perfectly credible' idea.

He told ITV's Peston: 'I have said it's a perfectly credible proposition. Some ideas have been put forward which are not deliverable, they are not negotiable.

'The confirmatory referendum idea, many people will disagree with it, I'm not sure there's a majority in Parliament for it, but it's a perfectly credible proposition and it deserves to be tested in Parliament.'

In an interview with ITV's Peston, he said he was expecting Brussels to insist on a lengthy delay to Brexit but stressed that the Government wanted to ensure that any extension to the Article 50 process could be cut short if a deal was agreed by MPs.

He said the Government wanted 'absolute clarity that as soon as we have done the deal we are able to bring that extension to an end'.

Signalling that compromise would be required from both sides in the talks with Labour, Mr Hammond was asked whether a customs union was a price worth paying for a deal.

'If that's what we have to do then let's look at that,' he said.

Any decision to sign up to customs union membership after Brexit will not amount to a 'permanent straitjacket' for the UK, Attorney General Geoffrey Cox has said.

Mr Cox said that Britain could negotiate its way out of a customs union once its withdrawal from the EU is complete.

Membership of a customs union is one of the demands being made by Jeremy Corbyn for Labour support of a Brexit deal.

Speaking to BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg, Mr Cox said that, although he opposed customs union membership, his 'most important priority' was to take the UK out of the EU.

'To me, because I am completely convinced that we must leave and I have been now for a considerable time, leaving is the priority,' the Attorney General said. 'Other matters, important though they are, are of a lesser significance to the duty we have and the imperative we must fulfil of leaving the European Union.'

Chancellor Philip Hammond has left Brexiteers apoplectic and was accused of 'going rogue' after he called a second referendum 'perfectly credible' said a customs union could be a price worth paying for a deal with Jeremy Corbyn.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said a No Deal Brexit is now 'very unlikely' as he suggested he could accept a customs union compromise.

He said that, while he 'profoundly' disagreed with Jeremy Corbyn on economic and security matters, he believed the only remaining way to get Brexit through was by seeking Labour votes.

And he told Today: 'I would much prefer the Prime Minister's deal to a customs union, to be frank. I want to deliver Brexit, I have spoken about the problems of a customs union and I don't think it's as good for the country. But I also want to deliver Brexit.'

But Mr Hancock said he was 'very, very strongly against' a second referendum - despite Chancellor Philip Hammond describing it as a 'perfectly credible' proposal. Asked about Mr Hammond's choice of words he said: 'That's not how I'd describe it'.

Talks between the Tory and Labour leaders will continue today but sources close to the negotiations are 'downbeat about chances of success'.

Whitehall source told The Times: 'We don't expect this to work, though we are hopeful that if there are more indicative votes next week one option will get over the line so we can take it to the European Council on Wednesday.'

Speaker John Bercow considers his options before he cast his deciding vote when MPs delivered a first tie in a Commons vote since 1993. He decided not to allow another round of indicative votes on Brexit alternatives

In a sign that Mrs May is serious about the talks, her chief Brexit negotiator Olly Robbins was asked to attend to provide advice on options that would have a chance of success in Brussels.

Fury as disgraced ex-Labour MP Fiona Onasanya helps Remainer rebels to victory by ONE VOTE on law to stop No Deal Brexit Disgraced MP Fiona Onasanya, pictured at a Tribunal yesterday, cast the deciding Commons vote that 'rammed through' a Bill on stopping No Deal and delaying Brexit A Bill to delay Brexit and take No Deal off the table was 'rammed through' the Commons by one vote - and only passed after it was backed by disgraced MP Fiona Onasanya, it was revealed today. The 35-year-old former Labour MP still represents Peterborough despite being sentenced to three months' jail in January for perverting the course of justice after repeatedly lying to police about a speeding offence. She was released early from HMP Bronzefield in Surrey, having served just 28 days and agreed to a curfew and an electronic tag, which allowed her to pass the crucial Brexit vote last night. Onasanya faces a by-election if at least 10 per cent of registered voters in the solicitor's Peterborough constituency - about 7,000 - sign the petition by May 1. Hours before last night's Commons vote she appeared at an employment tribunal where she is accused of discriminating against a disabled employee who was told to use the male toilet because she couldn't climb the stairs. Last night in Parliament, in an unusual step, Speaker John Bercow allowed Sir Oliver Letwin and Yvette Cooper to fast-track legislation through the Commons in only one day. Their Bill, which is being debated in the Lords today, compels Theresa May to ask Brussels for an extension to negotiations, in effect blocking No Deal. Peers approved the European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 5) Bill at second reading without a vote. It was approved by 313 to 312. 14 Tory MPs backed the Bill, all Remainers, including former Chancellor Ken Clarke, and Dominic Grieve QC. Six Tories abstained. Of the 20 rebels 17 were former ministers. Today Tory MP Derek Thomas apologised after he abstained from the Brexit delay bill in protest at John Bercow's decision to allow it through in a day. He has admitted he should have voted because it would have led to a tie. Mr Bercow would have had the deciding vote and would have been expected to kill the Bill because the Speaker tends to retain the status quo. Mr Thomas told Cornish Stuff: 'It was the wrong decision and in the light of day I should have stuck it out.' Advertisement

Labour was split over Brexit last night after Emily Thornberry contradicted her leader by demanding a second referendum on any deal.

Jeremy Corbyn's spokesman said yesterday that while he had called for a public vote on Theresa May's deal, he would not countenance one on any deal he put his name to.

The Labour leader yesterday held talks with the Prime Minister to thrash out a jointly agreed deal to put to Parliament. Mr Corbyn said he had raised the issue of a second referendum, but made clear he was not in favour of one in all circumstances.

But in an explosive intervention, his Shadow Foreign Secretary wrote to all Labour MPs demanding a ballot on whatever deal emerges. Miss Thornberry wrote: 'Any deal agreed by Parliament must be subject to a confirmatory public vote, and yes, the other option on the ballot must be Remain.'

Two ministers resigned in protest at the decision to open talks with Mr Corbyn yesterday, and senior Tories warned that the PM could see an exodus of Brexiteer ministers.

Former party leader Iain Duncan Smith said: 'The spectre of Corbyn lording it over us in a Prime ministerial way as he wrecks Brexit makes my blood run cold and fear for my party and my country.' Cabinet ministers believe at least eight members of Mrs May's top team could quit if the PM agrees to a formal customs union with the EU.

One Cabinet source said: 'It can't be a permanent customs union because it's against the manifesto. If you do that then people will walk.' Yesterday a group of senior Brexiteers - four Cabinet ministers and 15 junior ministers - met in the office of Leader of the Commons Andrea Leadsom to discuss their next moves.

As well as Miss Leadsom, the meeting was attended by Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt and Transport Secretary Chris Grayling as well as Treasury Chief Secretary Liz Truss.

One MP who attended the meeting told the Mail: 'They are trying to come to a common view about when 'enough is enough'.

'But they disagree about when to quit. There is also the issue of whether you need to keep Brexit people in Cabinet.' But last night Mr Corbyn was also facing a growing Labour backlash over the talks, as sources indicated he would not insist on a second referendum as the price for a deal.

Sources involved in the negotiations said the two sides were exploring whether they could reach agreement on a customs union and meet Labour's demand that the Government agrees to adopt new EU laws on workers' rights and environmental standards even after the UK has left.

Both sides are ready to agree that free movement must end, although Labour wants to soften the Government's immigration plans. And Mr Corbyn appeared ready to drop the idea of a second referendum, with a spokesman saying it was only needed to stop a 'damaging Tory Brexit or a no deal'.

The talks came as:

Attorney General Geoffrey Cox led Cabinet efforts to make the case for a customs union compromise, insisting it was 'not some kind of sell-out'.

Mrs May was hijacked at Prime Minister's Questions, with four Tory MPs asking why she was asking for help from Mr Corbyn after previously branding him 'unfit for office'.

The blamed Eurosceptic hardliners for her decision to open talks with Mr Corbyn, saying that with some Tory MPs 'unwilling to support' her deal, it was the 'only way to deliver the smooth, orderly Brexit we promised.'

MPs voted to change the law to force Mrs May to seek a Brexit delay after John Bercow allowed them to fast-track legislation.

Downing Street prepared to fire the starting gun on next month's European parliament elections, but insisted they could be scrapped just 24 hours before they are due to take place on May 23 if Mrs May can agree a deal in time.

Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry, who is not part of Mr Corbyn's negotiating team, wrote to Labour MPs saying any deal 'must be subject to a confirmatory public vote', with the option to remain in the EU on the ballot paper.

Furious Eurosceptic Tory MPs tried to hold an informal vote of no confidence in Mrs May, only to be told by party shop steward Sir Graham Brady that they could not try again until December following their botched coup last year.

Brexit minister Chris Heaton-Harris, who resigned yesterday, said Britain was ready to leave with No Deal next week and accused officials of hiding the truth from the PM.

The Prime Minister made the momentous decision to drop her Brexit red lines and open talks with Mr Corbyn following a fractious seven-hour Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

With her own deal defeated three times and, unwilling to risk the disruption of a no-deal, she said it was time to try and cut a deal with Labour.

If successful, it could be put to a Commons vote on Monday and then presented to EU leaders at an emergency Brussels summit on Wednesday, when Mrs May will request a delay to the UK's April 12 departure date.

Emerging from the talks in Mrs May's Commons office yesterday, Mr Corbyn said the discussions had gone 'very well'. But he later played down expectations of a breakthrough, saying: 'There hasn't been as much change as I expected but we will have further discussions tomorrow to explore technical issues.' Downing Street described the talks as 'constructive, with both sides showing flexibility to bring the current Brexit uncertainty to a close'.

Tory party members up and down the UK have been destroying their membership cards and posting the pictures on social media in protest their leader's decision to call in Labour to get a Brexit deal

Mrs May was accompanied by her deputy David Lidington in yesterday's talks, along with Mr Robbins, Mr Barclay and the chief whip Julian Smith.

Mr Corbyn's team included shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer, shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey and Labour's chief whip Nick Brown.

How can Tory MPs oust Theresa May? Westminster is rife with rumours Tory MPs are so angry with Theresa May's Brexit pivot they want a new vote to remove her. The Prime Minister fought and won a vote of no confidence in her party leadership in December - meaning she cannot be forced out by party rules. But demands are mounting this afternoon for the party's backbench 1922 Committee to call another vote anyway. The theory is a new secret ballot would allow ministers to join a revolt and produce a landslide vote against Mrs May's leadership. Success would be yet another political humiliation piled onto the ailing Prime Minister. But she has already suffered more indignities than any leader in living memory and carried on regardless - so the plotters cannot be sure it would work. Advertisement

Technical talks will continue between the two sides today, although neither Mr Corbyn nor Mrs May will be involved directly.

If the talks fail, No 10 has said it will try and agree a compromise deal with parliament next week through some form of 'run-off' with Mrs May's deal, although this is also likely to involve a customs union.

Mrs May has repeatedly insisted that the UK must leave the customs union in order to take advantage of the opportunity to strike new trade deals.

But Mr Cox, a prominent Brexiteer, yesterday said that a customs union would be an acceptable compromise.

He told the BBC that it was 'not desirable', but added: 'Leaving is the priority'.

He said the government's only option was to 'seek with Labour some common ground' for a 'swift exit'.

And he argued that there was 'nothing to stop us' getting out of a customs union later on.

Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay said a softer Brexit would be 'regrettable'. But he blamed hard line Eurosceptics for failing to support the deal, arguing the 'remorseless logic' of voting against it was 'either soft Brexit or no Brexit at all'.

Scottish Secretary David Mundell also revealed he would be willing to now back a customs union, saying: 'I think obviously there is support in the House of Commons for a customs union, it is not my preferred option, but I think it is just very important now that we find the basis for leaving that can command majority support.' Yesterday morning, Wales Office minister Nigel Adams became the 35th minister to quit Mrs May's government since the election. In his letter to the PM he said Mrs May was 'failing' at both delivering Brexit and preventing the 'calamity' of a Corbyn government.

Mr Adams, a close ally of Boris Johnson, said 'by legitimising and turning to Jeremy Corbyn to assist you at this crucial stage, rather than being bold, is a grave error.

Ex-Tory Boles hits out at May's 'hard Brexiter' comms chief Gibb Nick Boles (left) laid into Mrs May's director of communications Robbie Gibb (right) in a Twitter outburst tonight, two days after the Grantham MP dramatically quit the Tories over Brexit Ex-Tory MP Nick Boles tonight blasted Theresa May's comms chief Robbie Gibb, claiming the ex-BBC journalist was 'a hard Brexiter' who wanted her 'search for a cross party compromise' to fail. The Grantham MP, who resigned the Conservative whip on Monday night over Brexit, said the Prime Minister should tell Mr Gibb, her director of communications, to 'get back in his box - or go back to the BBC'. His Twitter outburst came after Mrs May had met Labour's Jeremy Corbyn for 'constructive' talks on a soft Brexit compromise. Mr Boles, who dramatically announced he was quitting the Tories in the Commons after the party helped block his soft Brexit plan, which included a customs union, wrote: 'I am no longer a member of the Conservative Party. So I can be blunt where previously I might have been discreet. 'The PM's head of communications Robbie Gibb is a hard Brexiter who wants to destroy the PM's new search for a cross party compromise. 'The media should be honest about the briefings they receive from that quarter. And the Prime Minister would do well to tell Mr Gibb to get back in his box - or go back to the BBC.' Advertisement

'It is clear we will now end up in the customs union. This is not the Brexit my constituents were promised and it is contrary to the pledge we made in our manifesto.' But Tory grandee Sir Oliver Letwin described Mr Corbyn as 'someone we can do business with.' And fellow Tory Sir Gary Streeter said: 'Our Prime Minister has done the right thing in the national interest and I salute her. If the ERG had not voted down her very sensible deal we could have left by now. Let's all get behind this much needed new plan.'

Hardline Brexiteers' bid to topple Theresa May following her agreement to work with Jeremy Corbyn on Brexit collapsed last night.

At a stormy meeting of the backbench 1922 Committee, some of the 28 'Spartan' Tory MPs who refused to vote for Mrs May's Brexit deal attempted to orchestrate a secret vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister's leadership.

But committee chairman Sir Graham Brady refused to allow it, warning it would be destabilising for the Conservative Party.

After the meeting, one angry backbencher, James Duddridge, declared it was 'open season' on Mrs May and encouraged colleagues to put in letters to Sir Graham stating they had no confidence in her.

However the plotters were quickly reminded that, following last year's failed coup, there is no official mechanism to unseat Mrs May until December.

Other Tories poured scorn on their attempts, saying that the party should unite ahead of next month's local elections.

Amid significant anger over Mrs May's willingness to talk to the Labour leader, Sir Graham said he would keep her 'informed' of the mood of the party. Yesterday, there were reports that some rank and file Tory members were cutting up their membership cards in protest at the move.

At Prime Minister's Questions, Brexiteers ambushed Mrs May, with a number criticising her decision to meet Mr Corbyn.

Lee Rowley said that last week she called the Labour leader 'the biggest threat to our standing in the world, to our defence, and to our economy' and asked: 'In her judgment what now qualifies him for involvement in Brexit?'

Former Brexit minister David Jones asked: 'Does it remain the position of the Prime Minister that the leader of the opposition is not fit to govern?'

Julian Lewis asked why, after talking about No Deal being better than a bad deal, Mrs May had approached Labour when most of her party wanted to leave without a deal.

The usually loyal Caroline Johnson spoke against what she called 'the risk of letting down the country and ushering in a Marxist, anti-Semite-led government'.

After the 1922 Committee meeting, Mr Duddridge said: 'In my view, two-thirds of the parliamentary party in a secret vote would vote against her.'

Fellow Spartan Mark Francois said he would put in a letter of no confidence in the Prime Minister to Sir Graham today.

Business minister Claire Perry said of Mr Francois: 'Mark has been very angry about Brexit for a very long time.

'Mark and his friends tried hard to defenestrate the Prime Minister a while ago and under the terms of our party there is not another opportunity to do so.

'The Prime Minister was very clear at the 1922 Committee last week that if people wanted her to go, she was prepared to resign after the first stage of this deal had been passed.

'That was not enough for some. When you see that you think, 'Well, look, there are some people for whom there is no compromise there for Brexit' so you have to focus on getting Brexit through.'

Steve Baker, of the hardline European Research Group, told the New Statesman: 'I think we may be on the cusp of the destruction of both main parties.'

Conservative members shared images of themselves on social media cutting up their party cards. Pub owner Adam Brooks from Essex, said the Labour leader 'has no right to be involved' in Brexit talks and Mrs May has 'killed' the Conservative Party.

Lawrence Gartshore, 16, from Warwick, said: 'This emphatic capitulation by May was really the final straw.'

JACK DOYLE: So what DOES Labour want from Theresa in return for their backing on Brexit? Customs Union Until now, Theresa May has said the UK will leave the European Union's customs union. The customs union eliminates duties – or tariffs – between member states, while EU countries impose a common external tariff on imports from non-members. But the customs union also allows the EU to strike trade deals on behalf of all its members. The Prime Minister made leaving the customs union a 'red line' in her negotiations due to her desire to strike independent trade deals with other countries – such as the USA. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, pictured with his shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer, left and shadow business secretary, Rebecca Long-Bailey, right, discussed strategy ahead of the his meeting with the PM yesterday eremy Corbyn wants a permanent customs union. He says it will help protect existing trade between the UK and EU, in particular that of manufactured goods which relies on complex supply chains – links which can break down if goods are delayed at the border Remaining in the union would stop this because the UK would be barred from reducing its tariffs on imported goods from other countries. They could only strike deals in the services sector – however this does make up a vast part of the modern UK economy. Jeremy Corbyn wants a permanent customs union. He says it will help protect existing trade between the UK and EU, in particular that of manufactured goods which relies on complex supply chains – links which can break down if goods are delayed at the border. Labour also says that remaining in the customs union will help keep trade flowing freely between Northern Ireland and the Republic without the need for the so-called 'backstop'. Mr Corbyn claims his proposal does include the UK having a say on future trade deals negotiated by the EU and affecting the UK. But this is something Brussels has apparently ruled out. Despite all this, senior Tory ministers were out in force yesterday preparing the ground for a customs union compromise. Attorney General Geoffrey Cox argued that the customs union might be needed to get out – claiming the UK could leave at a later point and a customs union would not be a 'permanent straitjacket'. Employment rights Under Mrs May's deal, the UK agrees not to row back on existing EU rules on workers' rights – such as the Working Time Directive which limits working hours – after we leave. But Mr Corbyn wants to go further and is demanding 'dynamic alignment' – meaning any future government would agree to accept any employment laws and trade union rules passed by the EU in future, regardless of Parliament's wishes. So what if the EU agreed to a four-day working week, or passed other regulations which would erode competitiveness? Mrs May claims to be a champion of workers' rights, so this is an area she could argue is consistent with her approach, even if it limits the UK's ability to set its own course in future because we are tied to Brussels diktats. Free movement In theory, the parties are not far apart on free movement – one of the central issues of the referendum campaign. Vast numbers of Labour voters backed Leave because they oppose uncontrolled immigration. This was reflected in Labour's manifesto which said free movement will end after we leave. For Mrs May, ending free movement is her reddest of red lines. But Labour policy on what migration policy should replace free movement is significantly more liberal than Tory policy. In particular, the Opposition is against the proposed £30,000 minimum earnings requirement for post-Brexit working visas. Could Mr Corbyn demand this is scrapped and a lower earnings threshold imposed? For Mrs May, ending free movement is her reddest of red lines. But Labour policy on what migration policy should replace free movement is significantly more liberal than Tory policy Second referendum PUBLICLY, Downing Street officials have not ruled out agreeing to a second referendum. Yet if anything is a deal breaker, it is a demand for another Brexit vote. The whole point of the talks with Mr Corbyn – and the reward for Mrs May enduring civil war in the Tory Party – is that Brexit goes through in short order with Labour backing. But a second referendum, with Remain on the ballot paper, would require a Brexit delay of at least a year and the UK taking part in MEP elections next month – both currently unacceptable to Mrs May. On Mr Corbyn's side, the second referendum is the issue which divides his Shadow Cabinet, MPs, activists and voters like no other. Agree to a deal without one and the Remainers in his party will be livid. If he wants to deliberately crash the talks, this is what Mr Corbyn demand Advertisement

What happens now MPs have passed laws against No Deal Brexit... and have they accidentally made it more likely?

Rebel MPs who seized control of the Commons agenda successfully rammed through laws designed to avoid No Deal last night - but were accused by the Government of making it more likely.

After last night's knife-edge action in the Commons, attention turns to the Lords as Yvette Cooper's plan to require the Government to seek a delay to Brexit to avoid No Deal is considered by peers.

The draft laws face a marathon day and staunch resistance from Brexiteers as debate cannot be timetabled - making a series of filibusters that will drag debate into the early hours of tomorrow inevitable.

Most expect the plans will be made law in the end despite a warning by Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay they raise the risk of an accidental No Deal.

The bill is now on its second reading in the House of Lords. To avoid the prospect of peers having to sit through the night, Chief Whip Lord Taylor of Holbeach announced a deal had been reached with Labour to hold the Bill's committee and report stages, and third reading, on Monday.

Mr Barclay said the way Ms Cooper's Bill is drafted undermines Theresa May's ability to negotiate a new delay to Brexit at an emergency summit next week.

Under the rebel law the Commons will set out demands for the length of the new Brexit. The Government says if the EU Council offers a different delay - whether in length or with conditions - the PM will not be able to agree it without a further vote in Parliament.

If Parliament makes further demands instead of rubber stamping whatever comes from Brussels, there would need to be further talks among EU leader - effectively impossible when the second vote would be on April 11 and exit due the following day.

Meanwhile, talks between the Government and Labour on a soft Brexit compromise are continuing in the Cabinet Office today.

Senior figures on both sides are wrestling with whether there can be a joint plan on the final UK-EU relationship that will allow the divorce deal to go through in time for Brexit to happen in May before European Parliament elections.

Talks broke up with no agreement last night. An 'intensive' new session convened at 11am today, Downing Street said.

If the talks fail, Mrs May has promised to put options to Parliament and agreed to be bound by the result. In a second round of indicative votes on Monday night a customs union, Norway-style soft Brexit and second referendum were the leading options - but none got a majority of MPs.

A new extension must be agreed with the EU at an emergency summit on Wednesday - with Britain's demands needing to be set out in a letter to EU Council President Donald Tusk early next week.

EU leaders must agree the terms of any extension unanimously and Mrs May will get no say in what is actually decided after she has made her request.

What happened last night?

To the fury of Brexiteers, Remain rebels MPs led by Yvette Cooper and Oliver Letwin rushed laws aimed at avoiding No Deal through the Commons. They got their plans through by a single vote - 313 to 312.

If it becomes law, the Government will be obliged to seek a delay to Brexit that avoids No Deal. A Commons motion would set out the sort of delay MPs want.

How Theresa May has filled a number of vacancies in her cabinet after resignations over Brexit Theresa May has filled a number of vacancies in her Government caused by the recent rash of resignations over Brexit, including appointing a minister for disabled people. Justin Tomlinson has been promoted within the Department for Work and Pensions to become minister of state for disabled people, filling a gap left by Sarah Newton's resignation on March 13. His place as junior DWP minister is taken by Will Quince. Conservative deputy chairman James Cleverly becomes parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Exiting the European Union, replacing Chris Heaton-Harris, who resigned on Wednesday. Mrs May's parliamentary private secretary Seema Kennedy takes the same rank at the Department of Health, replacing Steve Brine, who resigned on March 25. And Andrew Stephenson becomes parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, filling the gap left by Richard Harrington on March 25. Kevin Foster will be a junior minister at the Wales Office and assistant government whip, replacing Nigel Adams, who quit on Wednesday. He will also be an unpaid parliamentary secretary at the Cabinet Office while Chloe Smith is on maternity leave. Advertisement

Will it become a law?

Probably - but there is a massive battle in the House of Lords to get it through today. Brexiteer peers will run hours of filibusters - long speeches designed to obstruct the law by wasting time.

Why do ministers say it risks an accidental No Deal?

Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay said the way Ms Cooper's Bill is drafted undermines Mrs May's ability to negotiate a new delay to Brexit at an emergency summit next week.

Under the rebel law the Commons will set out demands for the length of the new Brexit. The Government says if the EU Council offers a different delay - whether in length or with conditions - the PM will not be able to agree it without a further vote in Parliament.

If Parliament makes further demands instead of rubber stamping whatever comes from Brussels, there would need to be further talks among EU leader - effectively impossible when the second vote would be on April 11 and exit due the following day.

What is happening in the cross party talks?

The Prime Minister has said the divorce deal could not be changed but announced on Tuesday she would seek a new consensus with Jeremy Corbyn on the political declaration about the final UK-EU agreement.

Talks broke up with no agreement last night. An 'intensive' new session convened at 11am today, Downing Street said.

If the talks fail, Mrs May has promised to put options to Parliament and agreed to be bound by the result. In a second round of indicative votes on Monday night a customs union, Norway-style soft Brexit and second referendum were the leading options - but none got a majority of MPs.

What does Mrs May's shift mean?

It suggests Mrs May has abandoned all hope of winning over remaining Tory Brexiteers and the DUP on the terms of her current deal.

Striking a cross-party deal on the future relationship will require Mrs May to abandon many of her red lines - including potentially on free movement and striking trade deals.

To get an agreement with Labour, Mrs May will need to agree the political declaration should spell out a much softer Brexit than her current plans do. This might mean a permanent UK-EU customs union or even staying in the EU Single Market.

What if Mr Corbyn says No?

Mrs May said if she cannot cut a deal with Corbyn, she would ask Parliament to come up with options - and promised to follow orders from MPs.

In a second round of indicative votes on Monday night a customs union, Norway-style soft Brexit and second referendum were the leading options - but none got a majority of MPs.

They would probably pass if the Tories whipped for them - but it would almost certainly mean ministers quitting the Government.

When will Brexit be?

It is hard to say - but it is unlikely to be next week on April 12. Mrs May said she would ask the EU for a new extension to Article 50 that is as 'short as possible' and ends when a deal is passed.

The PM clearly still wants to get out of the EU before European Parliament elections have to be held on May 22 but this is ultimately up to Brussels.

Will the EU agree to this?

It is hard to say. The EU has said it is open to further extension if there is a clear purpose and plan. Open ended talks on the future framework are unlikely to qualify.

A clear, negotiable goal for the future framework probably would do. The EU has always said it is open to Britain staying in the Single Market and Customs Union.

When does it need to be sorted out?

Mrs May must have a new plan in her pocket by the time she sees EU leaders next Wednesday. In practice, talks with Mr Corbyn must have concluded today or tomorrow to give time for MPs to have their say if she is to make demand to the EU ahead of next week's summit.

What are rebel MPs doing today?

Oliver Letwin secured control of the Commons agenda today, a third day after he staged indicative votes on Brexit yesterday and last Wednesday.

Today the MPs have a different plan - to pass a draft law requiring the Government to seek a delay to Brexit if there is No Deal.

How do they do it?

Before they can use the time in the Commons they have secured, the MPs must win a vote on the rules known as a Business of the House motion.

Today's motions says the principle of the new law would be debated until 7pm. After this there is until 10pm to debate any proposed amendments to the law before another vote to finalise it at 10pm.

Is it allowed?

Yes, in principle and if a majority of MPs vote for the Business of the House motion. Laws have been passed by the Government in a single day before though it remains unorthodox for backbench MPs to have control of the Commons at all.

Can it be stopped?

Yes, if opponents of the idea can win votes on the issue and block the Business of the House motion. This seems unlikely as Sir Oliver has won his previous votes with a majority of around 40.

What will the Lords do?

Unclear. Forcing the Bill through would require the cooperation of the Lords as there are no timetabling rules in the Upper House. Brexiteers would have a better chance of blocking it in the Lords.

In practice, Labour signalled in January the Lords would be unlikely to outright block a draft law passed by MPs in the Commons.

Will May resign?

Nodbody knows for sure. Last week, Mrs May announced she would go if and when her divorce deal passed so a new Tory leader could take charge of the trade talks phase.

In practice, it drained Mrs May of all remaining political capital. Most in Westminster think her Premiership is over within weeks at the latest.

As her deal folded for a third time on Friday, she faced immediate calls from Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn so stand down with instant effect.

What is clear is there is already a fight underway for the Tory leadership.

Does is all mean there will be an election?

Probably, at some point though the immediate chances probably fell slightly tonight. The Commons is deadlocked and the Government has no functional majority. While the Fixed Term Parliaments Act means the Government can stumble on, it will become increasingly powerless.

Mrs May could try to call one herself or, assuming she stands down, her successor could do so.

Would May lead the Tories into an early election?

Unlikely. Having admitted to her party she would go if the deal passes, Mrs May's political career is doomed.

While there is no procedural way to remove her, a withdrawal of political support from the Cabinet or Tory HQ would probably finish her even if she wanted to stay.

How is an election called? When would it be?

Because of the Fixed Term Parliaments Act passed by the coalition, the Prime Minister can no longer simply ask the Queen to dissolve the Commons and call an election. There are two procedures instead.

First - and this is what happened in 2017 - the Government can table a motion in the Commons calling for an early election. Crucially, this can only pass with a two-thirds majority of MPs - meaning either of the main parties can block it.

Second an election is called if the Government loses a vote of no confidence and no new administration can be built within 14 days.

In practice, this is can only happen if Tory rebels vote with Mr Corbyn - a move that would end the career of any Conservative MP who took the step.

An election takes a bare minimum of five weeks from start to finish and it would take a week or two to get to the shut down of Parliament, known as dissolution - putting the earliest possible polling day around mid to late May.

If the Tories hold a leadership election first it probably pushes any election out to late June at the earliest.

Why do people say there has to be an election?

The question of whether to call an election finally reached the Cabinet last week.

Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay warned the rejection of Mrs May's deal would set in train a series of events that will lead to a softer Brexit - meaning an election because so many MPs will have to break manifesto promises.

MPs voting to seize control of Brexit from ministers has only fuelldd the demands.

Labour has been calling for a new vote for months, insisting the Government has failed to deliver Brexit.

Mr Corbyn called a vote of no confidence in the Government in January insisting the failure of the first meaningful vote showed Mrs May's administration was doomed. He lost but the calls did not go away.

Brexiteers have joined the demands in recent days as Parliament wrestles with Brexit and amid fears among hardliners promises made by both main parties at the last election will be broken - specifically on leaving the Customs Union and Single Market.

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen wants Mrs May replaced with a Brexiteer. He believes it would push Remain Tories out of the party and then allow a snap election with more Eurosceptic candidates wearing blue rosettes.

What might happen?

Both main parties will have to write a manifesto - including a position on Brexit. Both parties are deeply split - in many cases between individual MPs and their local activists.

Under Mrs May, the Tories presumably try to start with the deal. But it is loathed by dozens of current Tory MPs who want a harder Brexit and hated even more by grassroots Tory members.

Shifting Tory policy on Brexit to the right would alienate the majority of current MPs who voted to Remain.

Labour has similar splits. Many of Labour's MPs and activists want Mr Corbyn to commit to putting Brexit to a second referendum - most with a view to cancelling it.

Mr Corbyn is a veteran Eurosceptic and millions of people who voted Leave in 2016 backed Labour in 2017.

The splits set the stage for a bitter and chaotic election. The outcome is highly unpredictable - the Tories start in front but are probably more divided on the main question facing the country.

Labour is behind but knows it made dramatic gains in the polls in the last election with its promises of vastly higher public spending.

Neither side can forecast what impact new political forces might wield over the election or how any public anger over the Brexit stalemate could play out.

It could swing the result in favour of one of the main parties or a new force.

Or an election campaign that takes months, costs millions of pounds could still end up in a hung Parliament and continued stalemate. This is the current forecast by polling expert Sir John Curtice.