Wednesday 27 March 2019 3:56 pm | Updated: Monday 03 June 2019 1:03 am

John Bercow blocks attempt to get round his Meaningful Vote ruling

John Bercow has given Theresa May another headache after he blocked any attempt to use parliamentary procedures to get round his ruling that the government cannot bring an unchanged Brexit deal back before MPs.

The Commons speaker ruled last week that he would only allow a third meaningful vote on May’s withdrawal plan if it was substantially different from the one defeated by MPs on March 12.

The government could have put forward a motion overturning his ruling – known as a paving motion – but Bercow announced on Wednesday afternoon that would not be allowed.

He said: "I understand that the government may be thinking of bringing meaningful vote three before the house either tomorrow or even on Friday, if the house opts to sit that day.

"Therefore, in order that there should be no misunderstanding, I wish to make clear that I do expect the government to meet the test of change.

"They should not seek to circumvent my ruling by means of tabling either a notwithstanding motion or a tabling motion.

"The table office has been instructed that no such motions will be accepted."

Nikki da Costa, former director of legislative affairs in Downing Street, was surprised by the ruling, and said: "This is extraordinary and extremely inflammatory in a long series of inflammatory actions."

The government is now under pressure to prove the deal is indeed different to the one already rejected if MPs are to get a vote on it by the end of week.

If the agreement is not signed off by the end of Friday, the UK has until 12 April to present a credible alternative plan to the EU in order to get a long extension period to the negotiating process.

If the deal is passed, the UK will leave the EU on 22 May.

MPs are this evening set to hold a series of indicative votes to see if there is a parliamentary consensus on how to break the Brexit stalemate.

The options on offer are: