POLL: Is a general election inevitable amid Brexit chaos?

Labour's deputy leader says Mrs May has "few options left" over Brexit, with the meaningful vote on her deal with the EU due to finally take place in the Commons later this month.

The vote was due to take place in December but was postponed by the Prime Minister after it became clear the Government was going to lose it.

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Mr Watson says the delay had left the country in an "impasse", which could result in Labour's wish of an early general election.

The West Bromwich East MP also described the potential of a second referendum on Brexit as his party's "backstop", which would only be backed "reluctantly".

On the prospect of a general election in the near future, Mr Watson told the Express & Star: "We're still in the impasse we were in before Christmas when we didn't get the meaningful vote."

"I've seen this when we were in Government, when you have a Prime Minister who is cornered, on the ropes.

"This is a Prime Minister who is running out of road.

"Despite her endeavours, she has few options left. In the next month, she will either have to resign, call a referendum, or call a General Election.

"We would prefer a general election because we think that's where the country could properly discuss what deals are on offer for Brexit.

"We could have a realistic, national debate on that. If there's no general election there should be a people's vote – but that's always been the insurance policy, that's our backstop.

"If Parliament can't decide on the deal, we want a general election. Failing that, we think the only way out would be to reluctantly ask the people to take another referendum."

Labour leader and lifelong Eurosceptic Jeremy Corbyn is under mounting pressure to back a second Brexit referendum, after polling of 1,000 Labour members showed 72 per cent support for another vote.

Mr Watson says he believes that Labour and the Tories could have forged a Brexit deal that worked had the Prime Minister taken up Mr Corbyn's Labour Party Conference offer to work together.

He said: "We've been pretty consistent for the last 18 months about what we want to see about this deal. We could have worked together, but sadly we have probably missed that moment now."