May makes humiliating retreat by DELAYING Commons Brexit vote in the face of massive Tory revolt

Theresa May is preparing an humiliating retreat over her Brexit deal in the face of a massive Tory revolt.

The PM is set to delay a showdown Commons vote tomorrow to avoid catastrophic defeat.

Mrs May has been locked in intense talks with allies and aides as they try to find a way through the dire situation.

Some 110 Tory MPs are pledged to oppose the plan, making victory all-but impossible as they line up with Labour, the SNP, and the Lib Dems.

A series of Cabinet ministers and a spokeswoman for the PM all publicly insisted this morning that the vote was 'going ahead as planned'.

But within an hour three senior sources told MailOnline they are certain that the Commons showdown will be put off. The Pound slid sharply on the news.

The decision - expected to be formally confirmed shortly - drew derision from critics, including Tories.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon accused the PM of 'pathetic cowardice', while Conservative MP Nick Boles jibed: 'Nothing has changed, right?' 

The new timings are unclear, but under the EU Withdrawal Act the government must lay out its plans to Parliament by January 21 at the latest. 

Mrs May is making what could be an agonising statement to MPs later this afternoon.

She will also have to navigate a potentially tricky procedural vote in order to put the vote off.  

A climbdown will allow Mrs May to avoid catastrophic defeat, and go back to Brussels to try to get more concessions. 

But it would also demonstrate how low her authority has sunk.

The EU has also flatly dismissed the idea that there could be substantive concessions on the divorce package, with Irish deputy PM Simon Coveney insisting the deal 'will not change'. 





MailOnline