Instead, Britain will simply crash out of the European Union in March unless an exit deal is approved or MPs find another way to force the government to act.

In written guidance to a member of parliament, seen by The Independent, experts in the House of Commons library said parliament cannot “legally and in isolation prevent a no-deal Brexit” if it votes against Theresa May’s deal.

The Commons chief clark, Sir David Natzler, confirmed that the vote MPs will take on what should happen in the event of no deal also “has no statutory significance”.

The clarification will fuel fears that Britain is heading for a no-deal outcome, amid ongoing doubts over Ms May’s ability to command a parliamentary majority for the agreement she hopes to strike.

Many MPs believe that if no agreement is reached with the EU or if parliament rejects Ms May’s deal, the Commons would be able to force the prime minister to go back to Brussels to renegotiate, or else to put the decision to the public.

However, they would need to find a new mechanism to do so after Commons officials confirmed that, from a legal perspective, parliament has little scope to stop Britain leaving the EU next March regardless of whether Ms May’s planned deal is approved.

The Commons library said: “The European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 provides three possible staging posts at which point parliament will be able to ‘have a say’ in a no-deal scenario, but none of them provide parliament with a legal veto over Brexit.

“They would give parliament an opportunity to ‘have a vote’ on the government’s proposed course of action in the absence of a deal, but not, as such, a vote on whether to accept or reject no deal.”

A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Show all 65 1 /65 A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit An estimated 700,000 people marched through London to demand a final say on the withdrawal agreement Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Red smoke from a canister hangs in the air as around 100,000 demonstrators march through London during a People's Vote anti-brexit demonstration savings banners and placards Anti-Brexit People's Vote March for the Future in London Rex A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Mayor of London Sadiq Khan takes part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Protesters wearing final Say shirts and holding placards Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final say Brexit march - final say on our furture London, 20 October 2018 Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit MP Chuka Umunna (left) and MP Vince Cable (right) as MP Anna Soubry (centre) addresses Anti-Brexit campaigners at a rally after the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A People’s Vote march attendee calls for a Final Say Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators with banners 'We're with EU' during the People's Vote March for the Future in London, Britain, 20 October 2018. Reports state that the 'March for the Future' is to be led by a column of young people and call for a Peopleâ€™s Vote on the Brexit deal. After marching through central London, there will be a rally on stage in Parliament Square, including speeches from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. EPA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Protesters at London’s march for the future in October The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Editor of The Independent Christian Broughton speaks to demonstrators in Parliament Sqaure after they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A poster at the March for the Future in October The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final say Brexit march - final say on our furture London, 20 October 2018 Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final say Brexit march - final say on our furture London, 20 October 2018 Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final say Brexit march - final say on our furture London, 20 October 2018 Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators hold placards as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final say Brexit march - final say on our furture London, 20 October 2018 Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final say Brexit march - final say on our furture London, 20 October 2018 Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final say Brexit march - final say on our furture London, 20 October 2018 Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final say Brexit march - final say on our furture London, 20 October 2018 Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final say Brexit march - final say on our furture London, 20 October 2018 Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final say Brexit march - final say on our furture London, 20 October 2018 Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 campaigner wrapped in EU flag Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators pass Trafalgar Square as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators wave Union and European flags and hold up placards as they pass Trafalgar Square, taking part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators hold placards as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A demonstrator holds a message during a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators take part in the 'People's Vote March for the Future,' in central London, Britain, 20 October 2018. Reports state that the 'March for the Future' is to be led by a column of young people and call for a Peopleâ€™s Vote on the Brexit deal. After marching through central London, there will be a rally on stage in Parliament Square, including speeches from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan EPA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A protester brandishes an Independent t-shirt during the Brexit March Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Tens of thousands of people take part in People's Vote March for the Future in central London. The march organised by the People's Vote campaign is led by young people calling for a People's Vote on the Brexit deal Rex A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum PA

Under the terms of the EU withdrawal act, if no agreement is reached with Brussels or if MPs vote down Ms May’s deal, the government must inform parliament of how it plans to proceed and allow MPs a vote on this.

However, the vote will be on a “neutral motion” that is likely to say merely that the Commons has “considered” the government’s plan. MPs cannot, through that vote, legally compel ministers to take any particular course of action, according to officials, meaning the government could legally push ahead with its plan without parliament’s support.

The Commons library said the vote on the government’s proposed strategy “has no direct legal effects”, meaning that even if MPs voted against no deal, it “does not mean that voting down the motion can, legally an in isolation, prevent a no-deal Brexit”.

Sir David confirmed this, telling the Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee: “What happens to the motion has no statutory significance anyway, even if it is agreed, disagreed, amended, adjourned or whatever; it just says that there will be a debate.

“The outcome of the debate has no statutory significance.”

However, some Tory MPs said the political pressure if ministers ignored the will of parliament would be so great that it would likely lead to Ms May’s government being toppled in a vote of no confidence.

Keir Starmer at Labour conference: 'We do not accept that the choice is whatever the PM manages to cobble together or no deal'

One former Tory minister told The Independent: “Parliament could indicate by motion that it doesn’t like what the government is doing and say, for example, ‘We think the government ought to immediately apply to extend the leave date, extend Article 50 and consider its revocation’.

“The government could then say ‘can’t, shan’t, won’t’, in which case the government would quite possibly cease to exist, either triggering a general election or installing a government that would do that.”

The ex-minister added: “The political pressure that can be exercised is significant and could feasibly bring the government down.”

Potential political ramifications aside, the confirmation that parliament will likely have no legally binding vote to stop a no-deal Brexit will be seized on by Labour MPs who, as The Independent revealed earlier this month, are minded to support Ms May’s deal because they fear the only alternative is Britain crashing out of the EU.

One, Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Gareth Snell, said: “The confirmation that there is no legal veto over no deal confirms what I and some colleagues feared.

“We shouldn’t blindly accept any old deal the prime minister presents, but Labour should rethink our red lines and think long and hard about whether voting down a deal which meets some of our tests is the sensible thing to do if the alternative is no deal.

“Labour is absolutely opposed to no deal, so if we vote down the deal we must be very clear in what we would do next to deliver a deal that protects jobs.”

The Labour leadership believes that if Ms May’s deal is rejected parliament could force her to either return to Brussels or call a general election or fresh referendum.

Ms May has previously insisted that MPs will only be able to choose between her deal and a no-deal Brexit.

However, her stance appears to have softened in recent days.

Asked last week what would happen if no deal is agreed, Ms May told MPs: “If, at the end of the negotiation process, both sides agreed that no deal was there, that would actually come back to this House, and then we would see what position the House would take in the circumstances of the time.”