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Theresa May faces a Commons showdown over the Tories’ cruel decision to scrap student nurses’ grants.

Labour will force a binding vote that sources claim could force the Prime Minister “back to the drawing board”.

Bursaries have already been axed last year.

But Labour says its motion - if it passed - would effectively stop the system that replaces them becoming law.

Labour sources claim this would send a “clear message from the Commons” that the grants should be brought back.

Shadow Health Secretary Jon Ashworth said axing bursaries “led to a huge fall in numbers applying for these courses and threatens to make the NHS staffing crisis even worse.”

Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner added: “If Tory MPs want their constituents to believe they want to protect our NHS, then they will have to vote for it.”

(Image: AFP)

Nursing students have been forced take loans for their living costs and fees of up to £9,250 since bursaries were ditched in September 2017.

Applications have already plummeted from 65,620 in 2016 to 53,010 in 2017.

And an government impact assessment in February admitted the cut could put poor, female and older students off entering the profession.

Mrs May - who has a tiny majority - faces the threat that her DUP allies may fail to back her in the vote.

The 10 Northern Irish MPs’ deal to prop up her government only extends to major votes on the Queen’s Speech, Budget, Brexit and national security.

And the DUP backs keeping nursing bursaries in Northern Ireland, which is not covered by wednesday's motion.

The Unionists are due to decide which way to whip their MPs on the motion following a meeting later tonight.

Without DUP support Mrs May’s working majority would be cut to less than half a dozen, including suspended MPs on each side.

DUP MPs previously forced the government into a compromise over scrapping childcare vouchers, while a bid to scrap a tuition fees hike passed unopposed last year when the party took Labour’s side.