Secret plans have been drawn up by Downing Street to delay Brexit for up to two months, it emerged today.
The bombshell plan comes hours after Theresa May sparked MPs’ fury by delaying their final Brexit vote until as late as March 12.
And facing no chance of a deal in the desert at an EU summit in Egypt today, the Prime Minister admitted it’s now only “within our grasp” to leave on March 29 not guaranteed.
Her comments sparked furious claims she is running down the clock and an angry row among Tory Brexiteers over fears we will no longer leave on time.
Now a delay to Brexit is one of three options in a paper being considered by No10, according to the Daily Telegraph.
The others are said to be a meaningful vote on the Brexit deal, as planned, or a conditional vote on legal advice by the Attorney General.
Over the weekend Cabinet ministers Amber Rudd, David Gauke and Greg Clark publicly demanded a delay if there is no agreement.
That prompted fury from Cabinet Brexiteers, while grassroots Tories backed a motion saying a delay would betray voters and damage democracy at the National Conservative Convention.
If Mrs May does announce a delay, she could claim it is needed to head off a rebellion by MPs this week.
Remain-backing junior minister Tobias Ellwood today said he is encouraging a delay if there’s no deal.
The Prime Minister is listening and is recognising the fact that we have tried very, very hard in order to secure a deal.
Mr Ellwood said the damage of no deal now overshadows any leverage it had in negotiations with the EU, and slammed the Tory ERG of Brexiteers for keeping it on the table.