MPs set to go on their summer holidays early amid Brexit turmoil for Theresa May

Emilio Casalicchio

MPs are set to break up for their summer holidays early as Theresa May faces increased pressure over her Brexit plans.



According to Commons sources the Government is mulling cutting the parliamentary term short by three days - putting business to bed on Thursday this week instead of the following Tuesday.

Such a move could put the brakes on any plan to oust the Prime Minister - with rumours swirling that Tory MPs are nearing the required 48 letters to trigger a vote of no confidence.

Mrs May has been under intense pressure since the Cabinet signed up to her Brexit strategy at Chequers earlier this month - with nine resignations from government ranks so far.

A Parliamentary motion is said to be tabled by the Government on Tuesday which, if approved by MPs, would see the House rise for the summer 48 hours later and not return until 5 September.

One source said told PoliticsHome: "There isn’t much business next week anyway."

A Number 10 source confirmed an early end to the parliamentary session was on the cards.

But a Labour source told PoliticsHome: "It is staggering that the Tories are in such a state they are considering just packing up and going home."

Pro-Brexit Tory MPs were left furious by the Chequers plan - arguing it leaves the UK too closely tied to Brussels with its hopes for a common rulebook for goods and a shared customs regime.

Cornwall MP Scott Mann became the latest Parliamentary Private Secretary - and ninth Tory overall - to quit today, as he argued the strategy was not up to scratch.

In his resignation letter to the Prime Minister, he wrote: “Over the coming days, weeks and months I fear that elements of the Brexit White Paper will inevitably put me in direct conflict with the views expressed by a large section of my constituents.

“I am not prepared to compromise their wishes to deliver a watered down Brexit.”