Britain has a Brexit backup plan if talks fail, says minister

May was forced to introduce the two-clause bill empowering her to trigger Article 50 after the Supreme Court ruled in January that she must seek parliament’s approval to start Brexit.

Unless a significant number of Conservatives defy Government orders and vote for the amendment to the Article 50 legislation, it is unlikely the amendment will pass.

One would give Parliament a “meaningful” vote on the divorce deal, while the other guarantees protections for European Union nationals living in Britain.

The government enjoys a “Brexit majority” of about 30 MPs in the Commons – double its normal working majority – thanks to the support of MPs from other parties.

Speaking to BBC on Sunday, Davis blasted lawmakers’ plans to change the government’s proposed bill to begin Brexit in a way that gives them more power to reject the final terms of the split.

Appearing on the Andrew Marr show, he urged the British public: “Please don’t tie the Prime Minister’s hands to do things which we expect to attain anyway”.

Having written to Mr Tusk, she will inform Parliament in a statement to the House of Commons of her decision.

Mr Kenny said that while he had spoken with Ms May at the European Council last Thursday in Brussels, she had not committed to any particular date for triggering article 50.

However, the Prime Minister’s timetable could be blown off course if MPs decide to back either of two amendments to the bill by peers.

In this case, the United Kingdom will revert to World Trade Organisation rules – a scenario which according to a leaked Treasury analysis could put a major dent in the economy and lead to rising food prices.

International Trade Secretary Liam Fox refused to be drawn on the timing, insisting only it would be within the next three weeks.

“The UK, on European Union exit, is entitled to the return of its paid-up capital and indeed to a corresponding share of the accumulated reserves of the EIB”, the legal opinion, written by Martin Howe, a leading Tory barrister, says as quoted by The Sunday Times.

Although she says she is optimistic about the outcome of the negotiations, Theresa May said she would prefer “no agreement” to a “bad agreement” with Brussels.

However, a Labour source also told Sky News that the tone of Brexit secretary David Davis would be crucial on Monday in shaping the views of crossbenchers and Conservative rebels.

“I think that actually, as it happens, we would be perfectly okay if we weren’t able to get an agreement”, he said.