Theresa May hopes to ask MPs to vote on her Brexit plan on Friday, the government has said.
But one day before the deadline to approve the deal, the Commons was thrown into confusion over precisely what it would be asked to agree.
May must secure approval for her deal by 11pm on Friday if the UK is to be given an automatic Brexit delay to May 22.
But Andrea Leadsom today surprised the Commons by refusing to confirm tomorrow would be a so-called meaningful vote.
There is speculation the government could ask MPs to approve the Withdrawal Agreement - the terms of the UK’s exit from the EU - but not the Political Declaration - which sets out the framework for the future trade relationship.
Downing Street could hope this would win the support of MPs who agree with the divorce deal, but are unhappy with the plans for the future trade deal.
The previous two votes on May’s deal combined the two as a package.
Jeremy Corbyn’s spokesman said Labour would not support splitting the two documents.
The Opposition has warned against a “blind Brexit” which would see the UK leave the EU with no guarantees about the future relationship.
Labour MP Ben Bradshaw blasted the potential move as “more attempted trickery and potential illegal trickery by the government”. And Labour’s Chris Bryant accused Leadsom of “shenaniganating” over the vote.
The prime minister’s dramatic promise last night to stand down if the deal goes through convinced some key Tory Brexiteers - including Boris Johnson - to finally to back her.
But hopes that it could go through in time to meet the EU’s deadline were dealt a serious blow when the DUP said it still would not support the deal.
