Theresa May could delay vote on her Brexit deal for more than a month, Downing Street admits

The prime minister has begun a series of meetings with key EU figures in a bid to squeeze further concessions out of Brussels

Theresa May could delay the critical commons vote on her Brexit deal for more than a month as she tries to squeeze new concessions out of the EU.

Downing Street confirmed the prime minister will bring the deal to a vote by January 21 at latest, though insiders hope it could be before depending on what happens in Brussels.

The prime minister met Dutch PM Mark Rutte on Tuesday morning ahead of other appointments with German chancellor Angela Merkel and European figures Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker as she begins her push for a way out of her dilemma.

It comes less than 24 hours after she delayed the crucial vote on her deal on Monday in the face of overwhelming parliamentary opposition, with dozens of Tory MPs and her DUP partners in government having signalled they would not let it pass.

If Ms May had not already reached some kind of agreement with Brussels, she should would have been forced under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 to make a statement on her next steps by January 21.

Downing Street said it will now use that date as their new deadline to bring her deal to a vote, with Ms May’s spokesman saying: “We will be keeping with the spirit of the Act and in doing so we will ensure that the matter is brought back before the commons before January 21.”

The move could help give Ms May some cover after her delaying of the vote led to intense criticism from political opponents who were hoping to see the deal defeated in the commons, something which might have precipitated the collapse of the prime minister’s administration.

Others, including ex-Conservative cabinet minister Justine Greening, had raised concerns that the PM could delay the vote until March 28, one day before Brexit, in order to increase the pressure on MPs to approve her deal.

Following the prime minister’s meeting with Mr Rutte on Tuesday, the PM’s spokesman said: “It was a productive breakfast. They discussed obviously Brexit ahead of the European Council this week. The leaders agreed that the backstop was only ever intended to be temporary, the prime minister set out the concerns held by many about it in the UK.

“She discussed the need for additional assurances on this point in order for the deal with the EU to pass the House of Commons. The prime minister and prime minister Rutte agreed to work together to find a way through.”

The prime minister's spokesman also showed Downing Street's displeasure with commons speaker John Bercow, after his impartiality in the Brexit debate was questioned by commons leader Andrea Leadsom.

The spokesman said: "That's not a question I've ever discussed directly with the Prime Minister. What I would say is that established convention is that the Speaker must remain politically impartial at all times. It is for the House to determine if this is not the case."

Asked whether Mrs May believed Mr Bercow should stand aside during the remaining Brexit debate and allow a deputy to take the chair, the PM's spokesman said: "It's for the House to determine these matters."

The delayed cabinet meeting which was due to take place on Tuesday will now happen on Wednesday following prime minister's questions in the commons.