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Conservative Ken Clarke says he agrees with Yvette Cooper's speech, adding that the key question is what is meant by "a meaningful vote".

The vote has to take place "before the British government has committed itself to the terms of a treaty-like agreement" with the EU members, and "anything else is not meaningful", according to Mr Clarke.

He predicts we will "not be remotely near agreement by March 2019, they haven't a chance - maybe heads of agreement".

Norman Smith
Assistant political editor

Theresa May sought to reassure MPs that they would be given a meaningful vote on Brexit before the UK leaves the EU.

However, despite this - and the last minute letter from the Brexit secretary to all Tory MPs and a written statement too setting out the government's position - the prime minister still seems to be heading for a showdown with Tory rebels.

Indeed, she pointedly rebuffed a call to accept the rebels' amendment to the Brexit bill.

Mrs May’s critics, however, insist ensuring Parliament gets a vote before any Brexit deal is signed off is for them a red line.

The former attorney general Dominic Grieve said it had become a “battle of wills". But the government is also under pressure from Brexiteers not to back off amid accusations some rebels are using the vote in an attempt to thwart Brexit.

Defeat would be a significant blow for Mrs May the day before she returns to Brussels conclude negotiations over the Brexit divorce bill.

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Labour's Yvette Cooper says as currently drafted the bill would "allow ministers to start implementing a withdrawal agreement by secondary legislation".

Conservative John Baron objects, saying we've been subject to an EU "power grab" whereas the bill's critics seem "less trusting of their own government".

Ms Cooper responds "we're not arguing the powers [previously held by the EU] should be handed over instead to small group of ministers".

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MPs are now starting a seventh day of committee-stage debate on the EU Withdrawal Bill, external, which writes EU law into UK law.

Committee stage is a chance for MPs to scrutinise a bill in detail, line by line.

Labour's Yvette Cooper is introducing an amendment in her name, which would require the government to implement the withdrawal agreement through separate primary and secondary legislation rather than through this bill.

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Labour's Jack Dromey complains "not one penny" has been found to fit Birmingham's tower blocks with sprinklers and the city faces a £100m funding cut "yet Maidenhead is the least hard hit".

He says it's "one law for her own constituency" and another for others.

Theresa May says the council should discuss this with the DCLG and "we'll ensure necessary safety work can be undertaken".

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Tory MP Anna Soubry - a potential Tory rebel in the vote tonight - says she and the PM have many things in common including the sobriquet "bloody difficult woman".

Dominic Grieve, her fellow Conservative MP, for many reasons is "not in that category", she says, and for many decades he's been loyal.

She goes on: The prime minister says she wants a meaningful vote before we leave the EU - and "would she accept amendment 7" in the spirit of unity?

Mr Grieve's amendment 7 to the EU Withdrawal Bill is the focus of tonight's potential rebellion and there is a chance the government will lose the vote.

The prime minister says that - as she set out earlier on the question about a meaningful vote - "that is what we will have".

"There will be an opportunity for Parliament to look at the withdrawal agreement and implementation bill," she says and she points MPs to David Davis's written statement today.

As currently drafted, the amendment would give a meaningful vote at too late a stage, she says.

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Green Caroline Lucas says the chancellor made the "extraordinary claim" that disabled workers are behind low productivity and calls on the PM to order him to withdraw this "offensive" remark.

Theresa May says he didn't express those views as characterised and the government "values the contributions made by disabled workers".

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The SNP's Stewart McDonald says thousands of workers in his constituency are doing "trial shifts" for firms which are not paying them for their labour.

He says this "exploitation" must be ended in time for Christmas and urges the PM to back a private member's bill he has tabled.

In response, the PM says that workers already have legal protection under minimum wage legislation.

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Tory MP Eddie Hughes says he's an enthusiastic member of the Women and Equalities Committee and says he wants to congratulate Ruth Cook on her appointment as head of the Clarion Group.

Women can get the top job in housing - and politics, he says.

The PM laughs and congratulates Ms Cook. And she uses the question as a chance to point out the Labour party has not had a woman leader.

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Labour's Barry Sheerman says there is a "crisis" in vocational education and apprenticeships and asks the PM to "crack a few heads" to address it.

Theresa May highlights there is "a growing number of people going into apprenticeships", new T-Levels and £500m earmarked for technical education.

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Labour MP Caroline Flint says Doncaster's Nat West branches are closing, and she asks for money from the banking levy to ensure communities stop losing their bank branches.

Theresa May says people's behaviour in relation to banks has changed, and there is less demand for branches.

She says the bank levy and the corporation tax surcharge raises money.

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Tory Sarah Wollaston, chair of the Commons health select committee, asks about the future of EU nationals working in the NHS after Brexit.

She urges the PM to reassure them that they are welcome to stay and their services are still needed after the UK leaves in March 2019.

The PM agrees, saying foreign workers - including EU nationals - do "incredible work" throughout British society "and it is absolutely right we recognise their contribution".

She says the first-phase Brexit agreement reached last week will protect EU workers and guarantees that the government will fully support those who make a "life choice" to stay in the UK.