THERESA May is calling off the vote on her Brexit deal in the face of what had been expected to be a significant defeat at the hands of rebel MPs.
A Government source confirmed that the vote was being pulled, with the Prime Minister due to inform the House of Commons in an oral statement at 3.30pm.
News that the crucial "meaningful vote" was being postponed broke just moments after a Downing Street spokeswoman told Westminster reporters at a regular daily briefing that it would go ahead.
The pound fell sharply in response, shedding 0.5% versus the US dollar to stand at 1.26. Against the euro, the pound was 0.8% down at 1.10.
May was engaged in a conference call by telephone with her Cabinet ministers as the story broke.
There was no official confirmation from 10 Downing Street that the vote was being called off.
But a senior source said: "It's being pulled."
The dramatic developments occurred as the European Court of Justice ruled that Britain can unilaterally halt the Brexit process by revoking the Article 50 letter declaring its intention to leave the EU.
May's hastily arranged statement is widely expected to confirm that she intends to seek further concessions from Brussels to try to win over rebellious backbenchers.
Government minister Nadhim Zahawi said the Prime Minister "has listened to colleagues and will head to Brussels to push back on the backstop."
But a spokeswoman for European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker poured cold water on hopes of a renegotiation.
In a press briefing in Brussels, Mina Andreeva said: "As President Juncker said, this deal is the best and only deal possible.
"We will not renegotiate – our position has therefore not changed and as far as we are concerned the United Kingdom is leaving the European Union on March 29, 2019."
READ MORE: How each Scottish Tory plans to vote on May's Brexit deal
Irish premier Leo Varadkar ruled out reopening negotiations around the backstop, which is designed to keep the Irish border open following Brexit.
The Taoiseach said it was not possible to reopen any aspect of the Withdrawal Agreement without reopening all aspects of it.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon accused May of "pathetic cowardice" and urged Labour to table a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister, which she said the SNP would support.
So it is confirmed - pathetic cowardice it is from PM. Yet again the interests of the Tory party are a higher priority for her than anything else. This can’t go on. https://t.co/P6dzhZEH7d
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) December 10, 2018
In a message directed at Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Ms Sturgeon said: "If Labour, as official opposition, lodges a motion of no confidence in this incompetent Government tomorrow, the SNP will support and we can then work together to give people the chance to stop Brexit in another vote.
"This shambles can't go on - so how about it?"
So @jeremycorbyn - if Labour, as official opposition, lodges motion of no confidence in this incompetent government tomorrow, @theSNP will support & we can then work together to give people the chance to stop Brexit in another vote. This shambles can’t go on - so how about it?
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) December 10, 2018
Corbyn said the UK no longer had a "functioning government" and called on the PM to switch to his party's plans for a "jobs-first deal".
"We have known for at least two weeks that Theresa May's worst-of-all-worlds deal was going to be rejected by Parliament because it is damaging for Britain," said Corbyn.
"Instead, she ploughed ahead when she should have gone back to Brussels to renegotiate or called an election so the public could elect a new government that could do so."
READ MORE: Scottish Tory MP launches attack on his party’s stand-in leader
Labour MP David Lammy, a supporter of the Best for Britain campaign for a second referendum, said: "This is an unprecedented and historic humiliation for Theresa May. This is recognition of what has been clear for months: there is no majority for her miserable Brexit deal in Parliament.
"It is impossible to deliver on the 2016 referendum result because it was based on false promises and fantasy. No negotiations in Brussels will change this fact.
"Our politics is now well and truly stuck. The way to unblock it is to go back to the public with a people's vote, which will either offer a mandate for a specific form of Brexit, or to remain in the EU."
Senior Cabinet Brexiteer Michael Gove told BBC Radio 4's Today that there was "no-one better placed" than May to get additional concessions in order to provide MPs with "reassurance that this is the right deal".
But he said he was concerned that renegotiating the Withdrawal Agreement could lead to other EU countries changing it "in a way that may not necessarily be to our advantage", adding: "By reopening it, there is a risk that we may not necessarily get everything that we wish for."
As several senior members of the Cabinet were reported to be manoeuvring to replace May should the vote fail, Gove said it was "extremely unlikely" that he would stand as a future Conservative Party leader.
May's address to MPs is due to be followed by a statement from Leader of the Commons Andrea Leadsom setting out the revised timetable for parliamentary business over the coming days.
Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay will then deliver a statement responding to the ECJ ruling on Article 50.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel