Theresa May’s Brexit plan was in fresh chaos on Monday afternoon after Downing Street slapped down Ireland’s foreign minister for saying she would make a last minute dash to Europe to secure concessions on her deal.
Simon Coveney appeared to confirm rumours the prime minister would to Strasbourg this evening to meet European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker for eleventh hour talks ahead of Tuesday’s meaningful Commons vote on Brexit deal.
But a No. 10 source said Coveney was “getting ahead of himself” and that the PM had no confirmed plans to travel.
It came after May’s official spokesman was unable to state clearly exactly what MPs would be voting on this week.
There have been rumours MPs may not be offered a straight yes or no vote on May’s deal - amid expectations the government is heading for another heavy defeat.
Meanwhile, Labour whips said the government was in “chaos” as it still had not confirmed whether May would respond to Jeremy Corbyn’s urgent question on Brexit an hour before the Commons debate was due to begin.
Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay is also due to make a statement on EU withdrawal late on Monday evening.
But he is unusually following two statements by a more junior minister, the Foreign Office’s Alistair Burt, suggesting the government needs more time to work on its Brexit strategy.
The government has until 10.30pm to finalise its motion for the meaningful vote on Tuesday, with some Tories warning May she could lose her job if she postpones or attempts to water it down.