Theresa May drops plan to publish new Brexit deal as she holds crunch talks with Cabinet ministers

Theresa May has ducked publishing the derided new version of her Brexit deal as she desperately tries to hold her Cabinet together.

The Withdrawal Agreement Bill, which contained a controversial pledge to offer MPs a vote on another referendum, was due to be published on Friday and voted on in the Commons in the first week of June.

Yet following the resignation of Andrea Leadsom as Leader of the Commons in protest at May’s new deal, the Prime Minister is meeting members of her top team on Thursday to discuss changes to her plan.

In her resignation letter, Leadsom claimed another referendum would be “dangerously divisive” and making such a concession threatened the integrity of the United Kingdom.

The Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman confirmed on Thursday morning the Bill was not yet finalised, saying: “The Prime Minister is listening to her colleagues about the Bill and will be having further discussions.”

With Leadsom gone, it was down to government whip Mark Spencer to announce the upcoming business for the Commons.

Speaking from the despatch box on Thursday, Spencer did not confirm the Withdrawal Agreement Bill would voted on in the week commencing 3 June, despite May repeatedly promising it would be.

He also confirmed the Bill would not be published on Friday, again going back on a pledge by the Prime Minister.

Spencer said: “We will update the House on the publication and introduction of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill on our return from the Whitsun recess.”