It could be more accurately described as a personal lap of victory for the US president, performed largely at the expense of his hosts.

Trump arrives in London having survived Robert Mueller’s last blow, a verbal recap of the special counsel’s finding that the president could neither be charged with crimes nor exonerated.

The president is now on the counter-attack and may well use his visit to repeat his claim – called “utterly ridiculous” by GCHQ – that UK intelligence helped spy on his election campaign.

The rich pageantry that the British monarchy supplies will not only distract from the lingering clouds of suspicion but send a bright red, white and blue message of reassurance to the Trump faithful that, while his domestic enemies might yap at his heels, he is still treated like royalty in foreign capitals.

“What he wants is the adulation,” said Thomas Wright, the director of the centre on the US and Europe at the Brookings Institution. “He wants the protocol and the grandeur and to be at the centre of it all. It is how he sees global diplomacy. It’s going from palace to chancellery, meeting leaders and looking the part.”

For that purpose, the UK visit could not be more perfect. On Monday, the Queen will greet Trump ceremonially in the gardens of Buckingham Palace. He will inspect a guard of honour and there will be royal gun salutes fired from Green Park and the Tower of London.

There will be afternoon tea and banquets and then, in Portsmouth, the martial grandeur of the Royal Navy.

Trump is bringing his extended family, including the heirs to his fortune and political power, Donald Jr, Eric and Ivanka. The most powerful of them, Ivanka, will attend a “business leaders” breakfast on Tuesday with her father in the company of Theresa May and the Duke of York.

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On a dramatic night inside and outside the Commons, a second referendum narrowly won the most votes tonight – losing 295 to 268. A permanent UK-EU customs union won almost as much support and had fewer votes against – defeating it 272 to 264.   

No Deal was rejected by 400 to 160, while MPs voted 273 to 184 against cancelling Brexit altogether. A soft Brexit plan to join EFTA and the EEA lost 377 to 65, while a similar Norway-style plan lost 283 to 188. Jeremy Corbyn’s plans lost 307 to 237.

The Brexiteers’ favoured plan to negotiate a two-year standstill deal with the EU suffered the worst defeat 422 to 139.   

At the second meaningful vote on March 12, Mrs May’s deal was defeated 391 to 242 – a weaker performance than a second referendum and a permanent customs union. 

MPs voted against a backdrop of Mrs May announcing she will quit as PM if MPs back her deal – which was not on the menu tonight. Her deal still appears doomed after the DUP said they would vote against it again.

Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay said the failure of MPs to find a consensus undermined the need for MPs to back Theresa May’s ‘compromise’ deal. He said failure to do so meant ‘there are no guarantees on where this process will end’.  

He warned there was ‘no simple way forward’ and told the Commons ‘there are no easy options here’.  

The Commons was suspended for 30 minutes so MPs could fill in a green ballot paper, answering yes or no to each of the eight proposals.   

The most favoured options are due to go through to a second round vote next week. If there is a firm conclusion then, MPs will then try to pass new laws forcing Theresa May to adopt their favoured option, before Britain will leave the EU on April 12 assuming the Brexit deal does not pass this week. 

Labour led the charge for a second referendum and a soft Brexit as Jeremy Corbyn orders his MPs to vote for watering down the Government deal that has been crushed twice already.

Mr Corbyn was expected to face a raft of resignations from Labour frontbenchers opposed to a public vote. In the event, shadow housing minister Melanie Onn was the only one to quit – though 27 Labour MPs rebelled overall. 

Amid deep Tory splits, most Conservative MPs will get a free vote across the board, except for the Cabinet who will be told to abstain. The move will avoid a dozen or more junior ministers resigning tonight. 

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A second referendum narrowly won the most votes tonight – losing 295 to 268. A permanent UK-EU customs union won also as much support and had fewer votes against – defeating it 272 to 264.

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Brexiteer Tory MP Michael Fabricant tweeted a picture of his indicative vote ballor tonight.He endorsed plans for a No Deal on April 12 and negotiating a two-year ‘standstill’ deal with the EU

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Three ministers were among 10 Tory rebels who voted to revoke Article 50 and stay in the EU to avoid a no-deal Brexit.

Foreign Office ministers Sir Alan Duncan and Mark Field were joined by health minister Stephen Hammond in voting for the motion tabled by the SNP’s Joanna Cherry, which was defeated by 293 votes to 184.

They were joined by ex-Government figures and Remainer rebels including ex-chancellor Ken Clarke, ex-education secretary Justine Greening and former attorney general Dominic Grieve.

Mr Clarke was also the only Tory to back a motion by Jeremy Corbyn which would back it’s alternative Brexit plan, which includes a closer relationship with the EU than Theresa May’s deal.

His own motion, that would have backed a Brexit plan with a customs union, was defeated by eight votes after a dozen Labour Leave-supports MPs voted against it.

They included John Mann and Denis Skinner and mostly represented seats in the north which voted to quit the EU

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At around 3.15pm an 18-year-old was stabbed multiple times in Kidbrooke, near Blackheath – with eyewitnesses claiming it happened in front of children.

Then at 4.30pm a 26-year-old man was stabbed multiple times in Beaversford Park off Martindale Road in Hounslow.

Before officers attended a second call at around 5pm to reports of a man suffering from a slash injury on Rosemary Avenue at the junction with Bath Road – also in Hounslow.   ADVERTISING

In another incident in Tottenham, a boy, believed to be aged 17, received a slash wound to his face at around 6.05pm on High Road.

And then later police confirmed a 17-year-old had been stabbed in Barking at around 7pm and an 18-year-old man had been attacked in Tooting at around 9pm.

It comes on the same day as the country’s top police chief, Cressida Dick, has said youth knife violence is at the worst level she has ever seen it.

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An 18-year-old was stabbed multiple times in Kidbrooke (pictured at the scene this evening), near Blackheath, this afternoon – with eyewitnesses claiming it happened in front of children

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A 17-year-old male has been taken to hospital after being stabbed at around 7pm in Barking this evening

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Then at 9pm, police and ambulance staff were sent to assist a man who had been stabbed in Tooting this evening

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The Metropolitan Police said a boy, believed to be aged 17, received a slash wound to his face at about 6.05pm on High Road, Tottenham

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A map shows how a night of violence spread across London, with stabbings in Tottenham, Hounslow, Tooting, Kidbrooke and Barking 

Police were called to a road in Kidbrooke, near Blackheath, south east London at 3.24pm following reports that a male was being threatened with a knife.

Paramedics and officers attended the scene in Thyme Close and found a man, aged around 18, suffering from multiple stab wounds.

Stunned residents have told how they saw blood ‘gushing’ from a wound to his side after he was chased by a car. 

Two men are reported to have jumped out armed with knives and attacked the man, thought to be aged just 18.

Children on their way home from school are understood to have seen the sickening attack. One witness, who said she was too scared to be named, described how the drama unfolded.

She said: ‘I was coming home from work when I saw a black car come speeding past me. It was going really fast. The car smashed into two others and made a loud noise.

‘Two men got out of the car armed with huge knives.

‘They were very large and fearsome. The blades were massive. I was absolutely terrified and just called the police straight away. I was so scared.’

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Police were called to Thyme Close (pictured) in Kidbrooke, near Blackheath, south east London at 3.24pm following reports that a male was being threatened with a knife

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Six police cars were parked up outside a block of flats which was cordoned off by officers on the new build estate off Nelson Mandela Road (pictured) which is the site of an old RAF depot

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An 18-year-old man has been stabbed in Tooting at around 9pm and has been taken to hospital

Describing the moments after the attack, she said: ‘The car then reversed and fled. I went to see what had happened and saw this man standing up. He had an injury to his head.

‘He then just collapsed to the floor. He was totally covered in blood. It was everywhere. It was obvious he had been stabbed in his side.

‘It only happened a few seconds before. I tried talking to him just to get his name and get him talking.’ 

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The Prime Minister addressed the Commons this afternoon and admitted ‘as things stand there is not sufficient support’ to hold a fresh vote on her deal, quashing speculation that it would happen tomorrow. 

Now she faces a move by rebel MPs who want to pass a motion tonight to seize control of Brexit – giving them the power to hold a vote on Wednesday letting the Commons select its favorite Brexit option in so-called ‘indicative votes’.

The PM vowed to whip against the motion proposed by Remainer rebel MP Oliver Letwin and also said she could ignore MPs’ preferences if they try to force her to adopt a softer Brexit.ADVERTISING

But she offered to hold indicative votes on government time in an effort to head-off the rebellion – meaning the votes would do ahead but rebel MPs would not be in control of the process. 

That tactic looked like it could work this evening, with lead plotter Nick Boles suggesting support was slipping away from his motion.  

Mr May’s ministers have also again suggested that they could call a general election rather than be forced into a soft exit from the EU against their manifesto promises, despite a recent opinion poll suggesting just 12 per cent of the public back a new vote.

As it stands, Britain is due to leave the EU on May 22 if May’s Brexit deal passes a vote before Friday. She can still bring the vote back on Thursday, and will be hoping the prospect of a softer Brexit will bring Brexiteer MPs and the DUP onboard. If her deal is not passed before Friday, Britain is due to leave the EU on April 12.

But the Prime Minister today appeared to rule out a No Deal exit on April 12 by telling the Commons: ‘Unless this house agrees to it, No Deal will not happen.’ 

Tory MP Crispin Blunt then confronted Mrs May and said taking No Deal off the table was the ‘final torpedo’ to her deal and ‘the most shameful surrender of any British leader since Singapore in 1942’. 

MPs have already voted to rule out No Deal under any circumstances and leaks from the Cabinet suggest that ministers are still threatening to call an election if MPs try to force a soft Brexit because that option would contradict their manifesto pledges.

Mrs May made the humbling admission about her vote being axed as she faced the Commons today hours before MPs are set to vote to start taking control away of Brexit from her in a series of indicative votes tonight.

She said: ‘It is with great regret that I have to conclude that as things stand there is still not sufficient support in the House to bring back the deal for a third meaningful vote. I continue to have discussions with colleagues to build support so that we can bring the vote forward this week and guarantee Brexit’.   

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Theresa May has admitted in the Commons today that No Deal will not happen without Parliament saying so – but insists that her deal is the best deal even though she doesn’t have the support to bring it back for a third time

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO BREXIT THIS WEEK?  

 LIKELY TO HAPPEN TUESDAY:  MAY CONTINUES HER BATTLE FOR SUPPORT FOR HER BREXIT DEAL

Tuesday had been touted as a possible day for the third coming of the meaningful vote on Theresa May’s Brexit deal, following heavy defeats in January and just a fortnight ago. But the DUP, whose support is key if she has any chance of getting it through the Commons, kiboshed that idea earlier and she announced it would not happen tomorrow.  With no sign that the Prime Minister is prepared to abandon the plan it means she is likely to spend the day trying to hammer out a deal with anyone receptive – if they exist.

LIKELY TO HAPPEN WEDNESDAY: MPs HOLD INDICATIVE VOTES  

The Commons is set to vote tonight to let MPs take control of Brexit. They are likely to hold a series of indicative votes on Brexit alternatives this week, most likely on Wednesday. The alternatives include a softer Brexit, a second referendum or leaving with No Deal. If one commands a majority, MPs will try to pressure Theresa May into adopting that option. But there is no binding way of making her do so. If the Commons votes against taking control in tonight’s vote Mrs May said she will make Government time available for some similar votes – which could be on Wednesday. Though some MPs remain sceptical.

COULD STILL HAPPEN THURSDAY: MAY HOLDS A THIRD MEANINGFUL VOTE ON HER BREXIT DEAL

May is likely to try and pass her Brexit deal a third time, after the EU offered a Brexit date of 22 May if she does so this week. The Prime Minister will use threats that MPs will take control and force a softer Brexit in an attempt to force Brexiteer rebels to finally back her. She may also offer them a date when she will quit in return for their support. Thursday is the most likely day for her vote, but there is a chance she won’t hold it if she still does not believe she’ll win.

FRIDAY: MPs TAKE CONTROL?

If the PM loses a third vote on her deal, MPs and Remainer Cabinet ministers will try and force her towards a softer Brexit. Brexiteer MPs and Cabinet minister will conversely try and push her towards a No Deal exit from the EU. Minister have also claimed that they could call an election if MPs try to force them into a soft Brexit. How this pans out will depend on the result of the votes tonight and on Wednesday.  Video playing bottom right…Click here to expand to full page

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Theresa May enters Parliament with Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay ahead of her statement updating the Commons on her Brexit strategy. Michael Gove has denied he would want to take over from Mrs May before a cabinet meeting where she touted holding her vote again, which appeared to please Leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom as she left 10 Downing Street

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These are the seven options for Brexit MPs could vote on this week if Mrs May is forced towards a softer Brexit

The seven options for Brexit Theresa May will present to MPs 

The seven Brexit options MPs may get to choose from:

:: Theresa May’s Brexit deal – The Withdrawal Agreement negotiated with Brussels that has already been rejected by MPs twice.

:: Revoke Article 50 – The cancellation of the UK’s notice to Brussels that it would leave the EU, which was given almost two years ago.

:: Second referendum – Another national poll of voters to check whether they still want to leave the EU.

:: The PM’s deal plus customs union – Labour’s Brexit plan, which would prevent Britain being able to strike its own trade deals.

:: The PM’s deal plus customs union plus single market – An even ‘softer’ Brexit plan, also known as ‘Common Market 2.0’ or ‘Norway Plus’, that would include keeping freedom of movement of people.

:: Free Trade Agreement – A trade deal between Great Britain and the EU, but excluding Northern Ireland, which would create a customs border in the Irish Sea.

:: No Deal – The country would leave the EU without striking an agreement with Brussels. 

Speaker John Bercow this afternoon confirmed that he had chosen Sir Oliver’s amendment to go to a vote. 

He also chose amendments tabled by Jeremy Corbyn, calling for indicative votes in Government time; and by Dame Margaret Beckett, which would seek to block a no-deal Brexit unless MPs vote for it. 

Mrs May had earlier told the Commons that the Government will oppose Sir Oliver’s amendment tonight paving the way for indicative votes on Brexit on Wednesday. Despite May’s opposition, Letwin’s amendment is still likely to a pass after it was narrowly defeated by two votes last week. 

The indicative votes will let MPs back a range of options including a softer Brexit, a second referendum and No Deal – but in practice the Commons is likely to back a softer Brexit. 

After ruling out a third vote on her deal tomorrow, Theresa May told MPs she could not guarantee that she would commit to implementing anything they voted for in an indicative process because they could involve an ‘outcome that is un-negotiable with the EU’.

She added: ‘No government could give a blank cheque to commit to an outcome without knowing what it is. So I cannot commit the Government to delivering the outcome of any votes held by this House, but I do commit to engaging constructively with this process’.

The Prime Minister said the ‘default outcome’ remained leaving without a deal and said: ‘The alternative is to pursue a different form of Brexit or a second referendum.

‘But the bottom line remains: if the House does not approve the Withdrawal Agreement this week and is not prepared to countenance leaving without a deal, we would have to seek a longer extension.’

That would mean holding European elections and would mean ‘we will not have been able to guarantee Brexit’. 

Setting out the choices facing MPs, Theresa May said: ‘Unless this House agrees to it, no-deal will not happen.

‘No Brexit must not happen. And a slow Brexit, which extends Article 50 beyond May 22, forces the British people to take part in European elections and gives up control of any of our borders, laws, money or trade is not a Brexit that will bring the British people together.’

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Downing Street will ask MPs from all parties to help find her a Plan B as Tory rebels said their ‘isolated’ leader should ‘name a date’ for her resignation after failing to deliver Brexit for March 29.    

Mrs May is expected to hold a vote to gauge support among MPs for the seven main paths for Brexit: The PM’s deal, No Deal, a second referendum, Labour’s preferred customs union deal, a Norway-plus EEA deal, a Canada-plus free trade deal or revoking Article 50 and staying in the EU. 

Brexiteers are furious because it would give control to Parliament, where the majority of MPs are remainers who want the softest possible Brexit or no Brexit at all. 

Tory MP Steve Baker, the ERG’s deputy chairman, said today: ‘National humiliation is imminent through these indicative votes. The wrong Conservatives have the levers of power’. Michael Fabricant tweeted: ‘If this is true, has Theresa May now decided to declare open war on ALL her backbenchers’. Yeovil MP Marcus Fysh said: ‘This is the most ludicrous, childish and unrealistic idea I have ever seen. Utterly unfit’.

Treasury minister Liz Truss  also said she would oppose the move as Brexiteers Boris Johnson and Michael Gove were seen outside Downing Street today.

Confirming the PM’s Plan B Business Secretary Greg Clark, one of the ‘gang of four’ senior remainers in the cabinet, said: ‘If doesn’t get passed then the Government will facilitate the ability for Parliament to express a majority of what it would approve. I think that is the right step’.

The row came as the DUP appeared to shred any hopes Mrs May had of getting her deal through as Westminster leader Nigel Dodds blasted the PM’s ‘inexcusable’ TV address on Wednesday and said she was ‘far too willing to capitulate’ during negotiations with the EU. 

He said: ‘The Prime Minister missed an opportunity at the EU Council to put forward proposals which could have improved the prospects of an acceptable withdrawal agreement and help unite the country. She has now agreed with the EU to kick the can down the road for another two weeks and humiliatingly revoke her oft-stated pledge that the UK would leave the EU on March 29’.

On her decision to point the finger at MPs for the Brexit stalemate he added: ‘Lectures by the Prime Minister putting the blame on others cannot disguise the responsibility her government bears for the current debacle’. 

Earlier the Prime Minister summoned cabinet ministers including Liam Fox, Philip Hammond and Stephen Barclay to No 10 for crisis talks. Tonight she will head to Chequers and is expected to focus on wooing Tory remainers and Labour rebels after Conservative Brexiteers and the DUP appeared to desert her. 

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Brexiteer Tory leadership candidates Boris Johnson and Michael Gove were outside the Cabinet Office today as Mrs May announced her Plan B

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Earlier Mrs May summoned ministers Liam Fox, Stephen Barclay and Philip Hammond to Downing Street today as she fights to save her deal

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Lucy Turner, 32, sent Danielle Wood rolling over the bonnet of the car, into the passenger wing mirror and onto the ground, fracturing her third vertebrae.

Footage went viral of the blue Citroen C3, which was by then being driven by a male accomplice, as it rammed its way out of Tesco in Rickmansworth just before Christmas.

Video playing bottom right…Click here to expand to full page

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Lucy Turner, 32, (right) sent Danielle Wood (left) rolling over the bonnet of the car, into the passenger wing mirror and onto the ground, fracturing her third vertebrae

The shocking video showed members of the public trying to stop the hire car, shouting: ‘Stop’ and ‘Get out. Get out of the car.’ 

But the driver sped and swerved his way out of the car park.

St Albans crown court heard Turner’s accomplices, a man and a woman who are both on the run, had tried to steal £174 worth of alcohol. 

They were stopped and the Tesco store manager pushed shopping trolleys to block the car’s exit.

Tesco worker Ms Wood, 26, was assisting in the road block when she saw the car, travelling at speed towards her colleague.

She shouted to him and moved onto the walk way towards parked cars, but was struck.

Ms Wood said: ‘I was petrified I thought I would be wiped out. I was in agony. I knew I had broken my back. I was screaming ‘My back, my back!’

She was taken to Watford General Hospital and, nearly 3 months after being hit, still wears a brace.

In a victim personal statement, Ms Wood, who has a 5-year-old son, said: ‘It happened two days before Christmas. It ruined Christmas for me and my family. I was released from hospital on Boxing Day.’

She said she has not had surgery as doctors are waiting to see if the break will heal naturally. At this stage, she does not know how long she will be in the brace, which she has to wear when out of the house.

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Footage went viral of the blue Citroen C3, (pictured) which was by then being driven by a male accomplice, as it rammed its way out of Tesco in Rickmansworth just before Christmas

Ms Wood said she had been hoping to start training as a manager at the store, but had now lost the ability to bend and do basic tasks. ‘I fear I will always have pain. It hurts emotionally and physically.’

She said she and her partner had stopped planning their wedding.

Turner, of Borehamwood, appeared for sentence having earlier pleaded guilty to two charges of theft, attempted theft, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, using a vehicle without insurance, driving while disqualified, being the driver of a vehicle that failed to stop and failing to report a collision.

Prosecutor Richard Jones said: ‘On 23 December Ms Turner and two others set out to steal from shops. She was the getaway driver.

‘The modus operandi was to seize goods of high value and get out through the emergency exit.’

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Turner (pictured) had previous convictions for driving while disqualified, shoplifting and common assault

They first went to the Tesco store in Pinner, Middlesex and stole £600 of alcohol. The accomplices escaped through the emergency exit and got into the car, driven by Turner.

The man and the woman tried to steal the alcohol from the Rickmansworth store but could not get out through the emergency exit. They left by the main entrance where they were intercepted by staff, said Mr Jones.

One witness heard the noise of a car revving loudly as if its tyres were stuck in mud. It drove the wrong way down the one way system at an estimated speed of 35 to 40 mph, hitting Ms Wood. At that stage the man was seated in the back.

Turner hit a grey Toyota MPV and then swapped positions with the man, who rammed their way out of the car park.

The next day, December 24, Turner stole two packets of baby formula from the Co-op in Borehamwood.

Chantelle Stocks, defending, said Turner developed a drug addiction after the death of her son in 2008. She said she had met the other two involved in a crack den.

Turner, who had sobbed in the dock as Ms Wood read out her impact statement, had written a letter of remorse to the judge.

She had previous convictions for driving while disqualified, shoplifting and common assault.

Jailing her, Judge Caroline Wigin said: ‘You were driving in a supermarket car park crammed with shoppers in the pre-Christmas period.’

She said Turner had a long-standing addiction to cocaine and heroin and had caused serious injury to Ms Wood ‘in the furtherance of crime.’

Referring to the victim, the judge said: ‘Every aspect of her life has been affected.’

In addition, Turner was banned from driving for 4 years 6 months. 

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The Labour leader told Sophy Ridge on Sunday that the ‘law must apply to everyone’, and denied that there was a discrepancy between the investigations into soldiers after Republican suspects were sent ‘comfort letters’ offering effective immunity from prosecution.

Matthew Jury, of McCue & Partners, who is representing the families of the victims of the Hyde Park bombings, told MailOnline: ‘Shamefully, Corbyn and co continue to stand by Blair’s outrageous decision to do a back-room deal with the IRA to grant terrorists on-the-run effective amnesty – and remember, whatever their protestations, this was not a part of the Good Friday Agreement.

‘All the while they sermonise about no one being above the law. They can’t have it both ways. 

‘If they’re going to demonise and pillory Britain’s veterans, then they must also back, not only an unequivocal revocation of the on-the-run letters, but a swooping up of the terrorists themselves to finally face justice.’

Jeremy Corbyn has angered supporters of British veterans after saying former soldiers should face prosecution for incidents during the Troubles, days after a former paratrooper was charged with murder over Bloody Sunday.

The Labour leader told Sophy Ridge on Sunday that the ‘law must apply to everyone’, and denied that there was a discrepancy between the investigations into soldiers after Republican suspects were sent ‘comfort letters’ offering effective immunity from prosecution.

Matthew Jury, of McCue & Partners, who is representing the families of the victims of the Hyde Park bombings, told MailOnline: ‘Shamefully, Corbyn and co continue to stand by Blair’s outrageous decision to do a back-room deal with the IRA to grant terrorists on-the-run effective amnesty – and remember, whatever their protestations, this was not a part of the Good Friday Agreement.

‘All the while they sermonise about no one being above the law. They can’t have it both ways. 

‘If they’re going to demonise and pillory Britain’s veterans, then they must also back, not only an unequivocal revocation of the on-the-run letters, but a swooping up of the terrorists themselves to finally face justice.’

Alan Barry, founder of Justice for Northern Ireland Veterans, said: ‘Under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, veterans are being left open to prosecution while terrorists have been cleansed of their past crimes.’ 

Speaking on Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday, Mr Corbyn said: ‘The law must apply to everyone, and I don’t think we should have statutory limitations on this.’

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 Mr Corbyn said today: ‘The law must apply to everyone, and I don’t think we should have statutory limitations on this’

Mr Corbyn said ‘we should have a fair and proper judicial process’ and said what happened on Bloody Sunday was ‘awful and appalling’.

He added: ‘I do think it’s important to have the independence of a legal process, and there has to be an insurance that everyone has to abide by the law.’

He was pressed on whether it was fair given how those members of the IRA suspected of crimes were offered an amnesty in the Northern Irish peace process.

The Labour leader replied: ‘The Good Friday Agreement was important, seminal and complicated, but it does not provide complete immunity for everyone, it was never intended to.’

Shami Chakrabarti criticised the comments of Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson in support of Soldier F, when he said the Government would pay his full legal costs and added: ‘Our serving and former personnel cannot live in constant fear of prosecution.’

She told BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show she approves of anyone accused of serious crimes getting ‘full, complete five-star legal aid’.

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Mr Corbyn tweeted: ‘The Prime Minister’s negotiations have failed. Last night’s agreement with the European Commission does not contain anything approaching the changes Theresa May promised Parliament, and whipped her MPs to vote for.’

The Prime Minister last night announced ‘legally binding changes’ to the controversial Irish border backstop after a dramatic dash to Strasbourg and last-minute talks with Jean-Claude Juncker.

She had been hoping some Labour rebels would back her deal to secure Britain’s exit from the EU – but those hopes appear to be fading fast after Attorney General Geoffrey Cox said his legal advice that Britain could be trapped in the backstop remained ‘unchanged’.

In a second tweet, Mr Corbyn repeated his familiar refrain that Mrs May had been ‘running down the clock’ to March 29. 

‘Since her Brexit deal was so overwhelmingly rejected, the Prime Minister has recklessly run down the clock, failed to effectively negotiate with the EU and refused to find common ground for a deal Parliament could support. That’s why MPs must reject this deal.’ 

Mrs May will hope the changes to her deal will be enough to win backing for her plan from rebel Tory Brexiteers and the DUP in the meaningful vote tonight and secure Britain’s exit from the EU on March 29. 

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Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer (left) has warned the changes Mrs May has secured to the backstop may not be enough for Attorney General Geoffrey Cox to alter his legal advice, which this morning turned out to be the case. Both men are pictured in Westminster today 

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Mr Corbyn blasted Mrs May’s deal in tweets sent this morning and accused her of ‘running down the clock’ 

The PM’s plans received a major blow this morning after Attorney General Geoffrey Cox announced he was still of the opinion that Britain risked being stuck in the backstop ‘indefinitely’. 

This outcome had previously be predicted by shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer. 

He tweeted after the announcement: ‘Attorney General confirms that there have been no significant changes to the Withdrawal Agreement despite the legal documents that were agreed last night. The Government’s strategy is now in tatters.’

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If the deal is defeated MPs will vote again tomorrow on no deal and then on delaying Brexit on Thursday – votes set to unlock a cascade of unpredictable consequences. 

The Prime Minister is scrambling to persuade Tory rebels to return to the fold in time for the showdown at 7pm – warning ‘Brexit could be lost’ if the divorce agreement is rejected again.

Mrs May’s hopes were dashed before she even stood up in the Commons today as Attorney General Geoffrey Cox sensationally torpedoed last night’s new concessions. He admitted they did not change the legal risk the hated Irish border backstop could become permanent 

In another blow, Brexit hardliners in the European Research Group were told by their ‘star chamber’ of lawyers the concessions do not go far enough in changing the backstop. The ERG will decide how to vote at 5pm – effectively deciding the scale of defeat that will be imposed on the Prime Minister tonight.

Rebel ringleader Jacob Rees-Mogg said the advice meant he could only back the deal if Brexit was at risk – a threat he branded a ‘phantom’ this afternoon despite Mrs May’s warning. 

A handful of Conservatives who voted No on January 15 have said they will back the deal tonight. But the 14 switchers identified by MailOnline are far short of the 116 extra votes Mrs May needs to reverse the 230 vote loss.  

Mrs May, who is losing her voice after her late night rescue mission to Strasbourg last night, said: ‘A lot of focus has been on the legal changes – but if this vote does not pass Brexit could be lost’. 

In a last-ditch plea for support she told MPs: ‘This is the moment and this is the time – time for us to come together, back this motion and get the deal done. We cannot serve our country by overturning a democratic decision of the British people. We cannot serve by prolonging a debate the British people now wish to see settled’. 

As MPs poked fun at her croaky voice and critics offered her throat sweets she hit back: ‘You may say that but you should hear Jean-Claude Juncker’s voice after our talks’.

Jeremy Corbyn, who has flirted with MPs campaigning for a second referendum and a softer Brexit, then confronted Mrs May and urged MPs to throw out her deal calling her negotiations a ‘failure’ and said he ‘looked forward to Parliament taking control’.

The Northern Irish DUP party, whose 10 MPs are propping up Mrs May’s Government, and the influential ERG group of around 100 Tories led by Mr Rees-Mogg are set to vote with Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour to oppose her divorce when the Commons votes at 7pm tonight. 

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The Northern Ireland party – which props up Theresa May in No 10 – is a crucial power broker in Tuesday’s crunch vote on the deal.

It said Mr Barnier’s offer tonight that Britain could unilaterally exit only parts of the Irish border backstop failed to ‘respect’ the UK constitution because it would place a border down the Irish Sea.

The immediate reaction from Whitehall sources was to say they were ‘unimpressed’ by Mr Barnier’s offer, which echoes proposals already rejected by Mrs May in September. 

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The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator outlined his position on Twitter. Mrs May needs to convince Brexiteers and Labour rebels to vote for her if she is to have any chance of winning on Tuesday night

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Michel Barnier outlined his proposed concessions in a Twitter thread this afternoon after meeting with the 27 ambassadors to the EU

Britain has demanded a unilateral exit mechanism from the backstop – part of the divorce deal designed to guarantee there is never a hard border in Ireland – if trade negotiations fail to secure a long-term UK-EU deal. 

What has Barnier offered on the backstop and what does it mean?

What is the Irish border backstop?  

The backstop was invented to meet promises to keep open the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland even if there is no comprehensive UK-EU trade deal.

The divorce deal says it will kick in automatically at the end of the Brexit transition if that deal is not in place.

If effectively keeps the UK in a customs union with the EU and Northern Ireland in both the customs union and single market.

This means many EU laws will keep being imposed on the UK and there can be no new trade deals. It also means regulatory checks on some goods crossing the Irish Sea. 

What do Brexiteers want? 

Getting out of the backstop – even if there is a trade deal – can only happen if both sides agree people and goods can freely cross the border.

Brexiteers fear the EU will unreasonably demand the backstop continues so EU law continues to apply in Northern Ireland.  

Northern Ireland MPs also hate the regulatory border in the Irish Sea, insisting it unreasonably carves up the United Kingdom. 

They have demanded either a time limit or a unilateral exit mechanism.  

What has Michel Barnier offered?

Barnier today said Britain could unilaterally quit the customs elements of the backstop – but not the rest.

It effectively means Northern Ireland will be held in the single market until the EU agrees a trade deal replaces it.

Will it work? 

Probably not. The DUP has already rejected it and Whitehall sources said they were ‘unimpressed’.  

The current backstop requires the whole UK to stay inside the EU customs union – meaning it cannot sign trade deals – with Northern Ireland also staying in parts of the single market. 

Mr Barnier today said the EU was prepared to let the United Kingdom quit the customs part of the treaty without prior agreement from the bloc.

But he said Britain would have to accept the single market continuing to apply in Northern Ireland until both sides agree it is no longer necessary to keep an open border with the Republic.

Mr Barnier said he was also prepared to attach a letter signed by Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk in January to the legal text of the deal. The letter sets out promises the backstop is temporary but was rejected by MPs. 

The proposal is essentially the Northern Ireland-only backstop rejected by Theresa May last year. She warned in September it could never be acceptable because it carves up the United Kingdom.   

Mr Barnier’s apparent shift comes hours after Mrs May pleaded with the EU to give ‘one more push’ to break the impasse that has left talks stalled for months. 

The Prime Minister was in Grimsby – a seat where 71 per cent of people voted to leave the EU – and warned those plotting to stop the UK leaving the EU: ‘Brexit does not belong to the MPs in Parliament – it belongs to the people of this country’.

 Without a huge swing in her favour MailOnline research has revealed that her deal to leave the EU on March 29 will be defeated by almost 100 votes on Tuesday. The following day the Commons is expected to vote to stop Britain leaving without a deal.

In a direct plea to Tory Brexiteers and Labour rebels opposed to her deal the PM said today: ‘Back it and the UK will leave the European Union. Reject it and no one knows what will happen.

‘We may never leave at all. It would be a moment of crisis’.

She added: ‘Everybody wants to get it done. Let’s get it done’. 

Mrs May also used her make-or-break speech to urge Brussels to give negotiations ‘one more push’ this weekend and get her deal over the line by giving her an end date to the Irish backstop to avoid wasting ‘more months arguing about Brexit’.

She is said to be willing to fly to Brussels this weekend and in direct message to the EU’s negotiators she said: ‘Now is the moment to act. We have worked hard together.

‘It needs just one more push to give Parliament what they have asked for’. 

This afternoon Brussels’ chief negotiator Michel Barnier hit back: ‘The EU stands united. We are not interested in the blame game. We are still working’.

But he then tweeted: ‘Following the EU-UK statement of 20 Feb, the EU has proposed to the UK a legally binding interpretation of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement. Most importantly:

‘The arbitration panel can already, under Article 178 WA, give UK the right to a proportionate suspension of its obligations under the backstop, as a last resort, if EU breaches its best endeavours/good faith obligations to negotiate alternative solutions. 

‘EU ready to give legal force to all commitments from January letter of Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker through joint interpretative statement. This will render best endeavour/good faith obligations even more actionable by an arbitration panel.

‘The EU commits to give UK the option to exit the Single Customs Territory unilaterally, while the other elements of the backstop must be maintained to avoid a hard border. UK will not be forced into customs union against its will.’  

A DUP spokesman said: ‘The EU must respect the constitutional and economic integrity of the UK. This proposal does not.

‘It is no more acceptable to place a new border between NI and GB than it would be to put a new border between NI and RoI.’

Brexiteer Tory Paul Masterton said: ‘An exclusively NI backstop would be far more unacceptable, which is why securing a UK wide position was (for all its been slaughtered from various quarters) a ‘win’ in the current draft.’ 

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