Theresa May insists she 'expects and intends' to call a vote on the Brexit deal before Britain leaves the bloc as she humiliatingly slaps down David Davis

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Theresa May has insisted she 'expects and intends' to call a vote on theBrexit deal before Britain quits the bloc in a humiliating slap down to David Davis. 

The Brexit Secretary warned MPs yesterday that the Brexit talks were likely go down to the wire in March 2019 - meaning the vote promised to MPs could be after exit happens.

But Mrs May dismissed the claim at Prime Minister's Questions, telling enraged Remain MPs she was 'confident' she would keep her promise of a 'meaningful' vote on the deal.

Downing Street said the plan to conclude the Brexit talks by October next year leaving time for the crucial vote before exit day on March 30, 2019.

In a humiliating climb down, a spokesman for Mr Davis then issued a statement disavowing his earlier comments to MPs. 

No 10 said the Prime Minister still retains confidence in her Brexit Secretary despite the extraordinary row at the heart of Government.

Theresa May insisted at Prime Minister's Questions (pictured) she was 'confident' she could get a deal in time to meet her promise

Giving evidence to the Commons Brexit Committee (pictured), Brexit Secretary David Davis insisted ministers had to keep 'no deal' on the table to avoid the danger of the EU making 'sudden, last minute claims' that could collapse the whole process

The next EU summit will be held in mid-December and both sides signalled at last week's meeting the target was to begin the trade phase of talks then. 

Both sides have publicly said they are aiming for a deal by October 2018. 

The row will fuel demands by Remain MPs to write the meaningful vote promise into flagship Brexit laws already bogged down and delayed by 393 amendments.

It is unclear what would happen if MPs rejected the deal in a 'meaningful' vote or if they de-rail the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill entirely over the row. 

She insisted she was 'confident' of getting a deal in time to hold a meaningful vote, while a No10 spokesman said: 'A final deal will be agreed before we leave and MPs will have a vote on it.'

Mrs May's official spokeswoman said the Prime Minister retained 'full confidence' in her Brexit Secretary despite the farcical scenes. 

In a humiliating climb down, a statement from the Brexit Department said Mr Davis had been addressing 'hypothetical scenarios' and he still 'expects and intends' parliament to get a say before the UK formally leaves.

'We are working to reach an agreement on the final deal in good time before we leave the EU in March 2019,' the statement said.

'Once the deal is agreed we will meet our long-standing commitment to a vote in both Houses and we expect and intend this to be before the vote in the European Parliament and therefore before we leave.' 

The extraordinary sequence of events began when Mr David told MPs he expected negotiations to go on until the last minute of the final day before the UK leaves and Parliament would not get a vote until the agreement was secured.

But just over an hour later, the Prime Minister told MPs she was 'confident' a deal would be secured in time for it to go before MPs.

She told the Commons: 'The timetable under the Lisbon Treaty does give time until March 2019 for the negotiations to take place, but I am confident because it is in the interests of both sides - and it is not just this parliament that wants to have a vote on that deal, but actually there will be ratification by other parliaments - that we will be able to achieve that agreement and that negotiation in time for this parliament to have the vote that we committed to.'

The Brexit Secretary said he hoped that a two-year transition arrangement can be sealed in principle by the first quarter of next year

In his evidence to MPs, Mr Davis warned that the EU could still try to force last minute concessions in the run up to the deadline of March 2019 unless Britain prepares for no deal.

TAXMAN WILL NEED EXTRA £450M IF BRITAIN LEAVES THE EU WITH NO DEAL

Jon Thompson, HMRC's top civil servant, today told MPs it would cost hundreds of millions to prepare Britain's customs for crashing out the EU with no deal

The taxman would need up to £450million in extra funding to deal with the impact of Britain quitting the EU with no deal, MPs were today warned.

While up to another 5,000 staff would have to be recruited to bolster the ranks of customs officials, a parliamentary committee was told.

Jon Thompson, HMRC's top civil servant, said extra resources would be needed to set up new customs checks if we get a no deal Brexit.

He told the Public Accounts Committee: 'It will be several hundred million pounds if we are implementing the option of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union with no ongoing special relationship in April 2019.

'That is the most extreme version, I think, of leaving the European Union.

'In that scenario you are looking at an estimate of between £300-£450 million.' 

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has already been given £78m to plan for a no deal Brexit.

Most is being spent on dealing with customs but cash has also been used to plan for the impact on indirect taxes and the welfare state and data sharing.

Mr Davis then admitted the last-minute nature of any deal meant it was possible Parliament would not vote on it until after Britain has left the EU.

Mr Davis also told the Brexit Committee he hoped that a two-year transition arrangement can be sealed in principle by the first quarter of next year.

But in a warning that will trouble business groups demanding certainty about how they will trade from March 2019, he said the implementation period would not be finalised until a future trade deal was agreed.

Mr Davis insisted ministers had to keep 'no deal' on the table to avoid the danger of the EU making 'sudden, last minute claims' that could collapse the whole process.

He said: 'It's no secret that the way the union makes its decision tends to be at the 59th minute of the 11th hour of the 11th day and so on, and that is precisely what I would expect to happen.'

He added: 'If there is a time limit on a negotiation the union stops the clock, it assumes that it's still at 11:59 until it is concluded, sometimes over the course of 24, 36, 72 hours thereafter and that's what I imagine it will be.

'And it will be a lot of pressure, very high stress, very exciting for everybody watching.' 

Admitting the last minute nature of talks could delay votes ratifying the deal, Mr Davis said: 'My concern is that we get the deal with the council, with the commission by the 29th.

'I would not be mortified if the ratification process ran into the implementation period.' 

Pressed on whether that meant a vote in Parliament on the deal could be after March 2019, he replied: 'It could be, yes, it could be.'

He added: 'Well, it can't come before we have the deal.'

Mr Davis stressed the Government's aim remained to have all negotiations concluded by the time of the UK's withdrawal.

Mr Davis also told the Brexit Committee he hoped that a two-year transition arrangement can be sealed in principle by the first quarter of next year

Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer said: 'David Davis and Theresa May's comments only add to the confusion and chaos over the Government's approach to the Brexit negotiations.

'Labour has been clear from the outset that Parliament must have the final say on the terms of Britain's exit from the European Union before March 2019.

'Ministers must urgently clarify their comments and accept Parliament will not be sidelined.' 

Labour MP Seema Malhotra, who secured the concession the Commons vote on the deal could be after Brexit, branded his admission 'unacceptable'. 

Mike Gapes, the Ilford South Labour MP, said: 'This is a deplorable attempted coup against Parliamentary democracy.

'MPs must assert our rights and defend our sovereign Parliament.'

Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer slammed chaos and confusion at the heart of the Brexit strategy 

Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesman Tom Brake said: 'This is a shameful attempt to force through an extreme Brexit and ride roughshod over our parliamentary democracy.

'It demonstrates the total contempt with which the Government holds Parliament. 

'David Davis' reputation as a champion of parliamentary sovereignty now lies in tatters.

'Not only should Parliament have a vote on the final deal, the British people should too - with the option to reject it and stay in the EU.

'What started with democracy cannot end with a stitch-up between Brussels and Whitehall.'

Former Europe Minister Pat McFadden, a supporter of the Open Britain pro Remain campaign, said: 'The Secretary of State's statement that Parliament may not get a vote on the final deal until after March 2019 cuts the feet from under any meaningful Parliamentary role in this process.

'Leavers campaigned for Brexit in the name of Parliamentary sovereignty and are now terrified of Parliament.

'The Government wants a blank cheque for whatever Brexit deal it manages to reach with no meaningful way for MPs to represent the interests of the public because the deal – or even no deal – will be decided before parliament gets a chance to express its view. This isn't a meaningful say. It's an after-the-fact rubber stamp.'

Mr Davis has been accused of prioritising the Brexit talks with Michel Barnier (pictured right) ahead of pushing through domestic legislation

Today's comments came after a fresh Cabinet rift opened up, with Mr Davis accused by colleagues of dragging his feet on bringing crucial legislation back to parliament.

He faced criticism for failing to meet Tory rebels to woo them into supporting the EU Withdrawal Bill.

The laws had been expected to return to the Commons last week - but MPs will now not resume working on the package until next month. Around 400 amendments are set to be tabled, with the government fearing defeat on dozens of them. 

The issue exploded at a crunch summit in No 10 on Monday attended by Theresa May. 

Sources said the atmosphere was 'very uncomfortable' and 'ugly'.

One source claimed Mr Davis had been 'dragged in' to explain the delays.

'He's blaming everyone else for the delay. The trouble is he just isn't doing any of the necessary legwork,' they said.

'He is supposed to be meeting with rebels like Nicky Morgan and Dominic Grieve but the meetings simply haven't happened. 

'He's off doing the negotiations but there is also the important business of getting Brexit legislation through the Commons.' 

A Brexit Department source dismissed the jibes, saying critics were 'offloading blame'.

The meeting was called to address why the Bill, which is necessary to make sure Brexit happens without chaos, hasn't yet come before Parliament for its committee stage. 

The PM is said to be 'unhappy' with the delays to the Bill, which has been pushed back to mid-November.

A source close to Mr Davis said he 'meets with colleagues regularly'.

A No 10 source said the PM 'thinks David Davis is doing an excellent job'. 

Brexit Secretary David Davis has been accused of 'dragging his feet' over wooing Tory rebels