Mrs May’s allies acknowledge that any attempt to use a Queen’s Speech as a platform to relaunch her premiership will inflame Tory tensions

Parliament has all but run out of legislation but so far only a handful of new bills are being readied for the next Queen’s Speech.

The end of this parliamentary session could be merely weeks away with only the main Brexit bill left to be introduced, government officials admit.

Theresa May has so far held back the Withdrawal and Implementation Bill in the absence of a meaningful vote approving her Brexit deal.

The prime minister may yet bring in the legislation in a last-ditch effort to force an EU divorce settlement through parliament.

If MPs were to reject the bill, however, Mrs May has been told that she would have no choice but to prorogue parliament, that is to bring the session to a close.