Brexit news: May to fly to Strasbourg in desperate last-ditch bid for breakthrough to avert looming Commons humiliation

Dublin reveals trip, but plays down talk of breakthrough – saying prime minister will 'try to finalise an agreement if that’s possible'

Theresa May will fly to Strasbourg this evening to try to salvage her Brexit deal ahead of a vote in the Commons tomorrow, the Irish government says.

But Simon Coveney, the deputy prime minister, played down any talk of a breakthrough – saying Ms May would “try to finalise an agreement if that’s possible”.

There was no immediate confirmation of the trip from Downing Street, which said earlier that there were “no plans” for the prime minister to hold further talks.

Mr Coveney said it would not be “helpful” to set out the obstacles still in the way of changes that might satisfy UK MPs, but added: “There are some.”

Earlier, Ms May’s spokesman insisted the meaningful vote would go ahead on Tuesday – but would not be specific about what exactly MPs will be voting on.

He refused to deny she could hold a provisional vote on the hypothetical deal she is seeking in Brussels – with desired reworking of the Irish backstop – despite the failure to persuade the EU to bend on it.

Speaking in Dublin, Mr Coveney said: “The negotiations are ongoing. Many had hoped we would have clarity at this stage, particularly in advance of the vote tomorrow. We don’t yet.

“The British prime minister is travelling to Strasbourg this evening, I understand, to try to finalise an agreement, if that is possible, to be able to put that to a meaningful vote in Westminster tomorrow.”

He insisted the EU wanted to be “helpful” on the backstop controversy, but said: “The backstop needs to be there and it needs to be robust.”

Downing Street said only: “We have not confirmed anything at this stage.”

But Number 10 sources explained that if Ms May is going to Strasbourg for face-to-face negotiations, it will likely be decided by 6pm, with Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay going as well.

That would leave the prime minister’s de-facto deputy David Lidington left in the UK to make a commons statement on Brexit later, that could update MPs on any breakthrough.

Insiders said it could be possible that the statement is pushed back as late as 10pm, in order to allow Mr Lidington to be in the best position possible to inform the house.