Theresa May forced to shelve Brexit vote and publication of bill as crisis deepens

The crisis surrounding Theresa May has deepened after she was forced to shelve the publication of – and vote on – her Brexit bill.

MPs were told the government now “hope” to finally reveal the detail of the withdrawal agreement bill in the first week of June – not tomorrow, as she promised.

The vote was pencilled in for Friday 7 June, but the Commons will not be sitting that day, fuelling the expectation that the bill will be dropped altogether.

The delay follows the resignation of Andrea Leadsom and the threat that more Brexiteer ministers will follow her out of the door, unless the legislation is amended or scrapped.

The prime minister also has a date of destiny with the head of the powerful 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers tomorrow, at which she will be ordered to accelerate her departure from No 10.

Graham Brady could also demand she drop the withdrawal agreement bill – or face another vote of no-confidence of Conservative MPs.

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