Second Brexit referendum ‘more likely than ever’ after Theresa May’s week of cabinet chaos

A SECOND referendum on Brexit is now "more likely than ever" as Theresa May's political future remains on the brink, Tom Watson has said.

Labour's deputy leader said yet another divisive referendum campaign was "more likely" now given the weakness of the Prime Minister, who is clinging to power by her fingertips.

He told the House Magazine: "She leads a government without a majority, it now looks like she leads a Cabinet without a majority as well.

"Given the weakness of her own government, I think it is more likely that we could get there."

He went on to say the party had had the option on the table for months but "at that time, it seemed very unlikely that there would be a people’s vote, that was the insurance option at the end of a series of unlikely events."

It comes just days after Jeremy Corbyn told a German paper: "We can't stop Brexit" - but his colleagues insisted a second vote could still be on the cards.

Sir Keir Starmer and Emily Thornberry both argued that if there was no general election, Labour could fight for another vote.

But insiders fear that it would destroy the public's trust in politicians, and Labour would alienate Leave voters if there were a fresh return to the ballot box.

Earlier this week Mrs May gave hope to Remainers as she said that there was a possibility of there being "no Brexit" at all.

She's repeatedly said she WON'T call for another referendum, as it would betray those who voted Leave before.

Yesterday she insisted that ministers were NOT planning for another ballot.

Today in another high-drama day in Westminster:

• It was claimed that no more senior ministers are likely to resign in the immediate future
• Rebel Tories continued to send in letters calling for the PM to be forced out
• Government whips were summoned to Westminster ahead of a possible vote in her leadership
• Mrs May prepared to reshuffle her Cabinet to replace ministers who've already quit
• She insisted the Brexit deal is personal - revealing her life depends on insulin imported from the EU
• But not a single Leave-backing minister has publicly spoken out in support of the deal

Mr Watson's comments come just as a fresh poll shows voters could back another say on Brexit.

In the first survey since Mrs May's deal came out, 48 per cent said they wanted a fresh referendum - and more said they wanted to Remain than leave.

The number of people who want a fresh vote spikes to 64 per cent if Mrs May's deal is voted down in the House of Commons.

The deal will go to a vote of MPs in the coming weeks, but dozens are expected to rebel and could torpedo it.

Three quarters of those polled think the deal doesn't match up to the promises the PM made after the Brexit vote two years ago.