Theresa May to trigger Article 50 in the last week of March

The rejected amendments would have included a guarantee of the rights of European Union nationals living in the United Kingdom and would have given lawmakers morepowers to reject the final terms of negotiations with the EU.

Brexit Secretary David Davis said a “no strings attached” bill would strengthen the UK’s hand – but Labour said he was “obsessed with passing a clean bill”.

It is possible there could be a slight delay to this timetable if the House of Lords reject the bill in the final stages on Monday evening.

It is also reflects a wider concern among pro-EU MPs that Corbyn is failing to create a clear dividing line with the Tories over Brexit as Theresa May prepares to trigger the formal Article 50 process to leave the EU.

Speaking in late February, Mr Juncker declared that Mrs May should expect no discount, but rather a ‘salty, ‘ or financially hefty, Brexit deal, as she prepares to trigger the highly contested Article 50.

Following the votes in the Lords which saw peers support the government, Brexit secretary David Davis said: “Parliament has today backed the Government in its determination to get on with the job of leaving the European Union and negotiating a positive new partnership with its remaining member states”.

“We’ve also been clear throughout that we are determined parliament will be engaged all the way through the process and afterwards”.

This could mean it was all “done and dusted by midnight” on Monday, she said.

“The government should therefore require each department to produce a “no deal” plan identifying the likely consequences and making proposals, including guidance to individuals and businesses, to mitigate potential risks”.

In the end, just two Tory MPs voted to uphold amendments and both motions were defeated, with the Government enjoying an increased majority compared to similar votes at the third reading of the Bill.

Brexit aftershocks: Who’s next to leave the EU?

Reports suggest up to ten Conservative MPs could oppose the government or abstain in the vote, including former education secretary Nicky Morgan and former chancellor Ken Clarke. The second tries to stop the government from agreeing any Brexit deal with the European Union, or from leaving with no deal, without the approval of parliament.

“The issue of the rights of European Union nationals to remain here is a decent human one and part of our economic success or not”, said Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, said: “The amendments matter because, for the first time, parliamentarians are winning battles on things [universities minister] Jo Johnson really cares about – like the TEF and probationary degree awarding powers”. The Prime Minister said that a second independence referendum would cause division and uncertainty, but she didn’t rule it out.

“I am not sure I would trust this government to run a bath or a bidet let alone a very complex set of negotiations”, he added.

He warned that the calls for a parliamentary vote on the deal could be interpreted as an attempt by MPs or peers to defy the will of the British people.