Theresa May accused of trying to sneak Brexit deal through by holding vote while Trump is visiting Britain next month

THERESA May was today accused of trying to sneak her Brexit deal through by holding a Commons vote when Donald Trump is in town.

The PM has scheduled a fresh vote on the withdrawal agreement in the first week of June.

That is the same date as Mr Trump's state visit to Britain - likely to be met with massive controversy and street protests.

Critics said Mrs May was "desperately trying to distract from what looks like another historic defeat" for her Brexit plan.

No10 announced last night that the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, which enshrines the deal with the EU into law, will be brought forward in the week beginning June 3.

A spokesman said: "It is imperative we do so then if the UK is to leave the EU before the summer Parliamentary recess."

But Labour are refusing to back the bill unless the Government softens its position in the ongoing cross-party Brexit talks.

We will vote against it again

Owen Paterson, Tory Brexiteer

Tory Brexiteer Owen Paterson blasted: "We will vote against it again because it doesn't change the withdrawal agreement."

And the DUP is also planning to vote against the bill when it reaches the Commons next month.

President Trump is arriving in Britain on June 3 and staying for three days.

That week will also see a hotly contested by-election in Peterborough, whose MP Fiona Onasanya was kicked out after lying about speeding.

The timing prompted claims Mrs May wants to try and sneak her deal through Parliament while public attention is focused on the state visit.

No10 'GAMES'

Lib Dem MP Layla Moran, a backer of the pro-EU Best for Britain campaign, told The Sun: "You don’t need to be Sherlock Holmes to figure out the game No10 are trying to play.

"With no legislative programme in sight, the Government have been forced to bring back the awful deal which Parliament has already rejected three times.

"But the Prime Minister’s office are desperately trying to distract from what looks like another historic defeat for that Brexit deal by bringing it back to the house in the same week Trump is over and there’s a by-election."

Labour's Anna Turley added: "Theresa May’s plan to hold a vote on her withdrawal agreement in the same week as Donald Trump’s state visit is the latest in a long line of bizarre decisions. Is she trying to distract from Trump or from her failing deal?"

And senior Tory Nigel Evans said: "She is trying to distract attention from the fact she has run out of road."

Tom Brake, the Lib Dems' EU spokesman, joked: "The really difficult question to answer is whether the Trump visit is meant to be a distraction from another Brexit defeat - or another Brexit defeat is meant to be a distraction from the Trump visit."

A No10 source insisted the timing was a coincidence and that it was the only way to get the deal approved by the time Parliament breaks up for the summer in late July.

The source said: "Any later and we won't have time to get the bill through by summer recess."

Downing Street has promised MPs they will still have several weeks to scrutinise the legislation.

The bill, known as the WAB, is being brought forward instead of a fourth meaningful vote after Commons Speaker John Bercow banned Mrs May from holding one.

Today Liam Fox said that if it fails, MPs will have to choose between leaving the EU with No Deal on October 31 or revoking Article 50 and staying in.

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