A cross-party group of MPs has put forward a Bill to prevent a no-deal Brexit in 10 days’ time.
If passed into law, the bill would require the PM to ask for an extension of Article 50 – which mandates the UK’s exit from the EU – beyond the current 12 April deadline.
Labour MP Yvette Cooper presented the bill – which supporters hope they can pass through the Commons in one day.
The cabinet has been meeting in Downing Street since 09:00 BST.
They remain split over the next steps for Brexit and the five-hour meeting has run over into its seventh hour.
The BBC’s John Pienaar said Theresa May’s cabinet has considered plans to “ramp up” no-deal Brexit preparations and a snap general election had also been discussed.
This bill would make it UK law for the PM to ask for an extension to prevent a no-deal, but it would be up to the EU to grant it – or not.
In March, MPs voted against leaving the EU without a deal, but it was not legally binding.
Meanwhile, the EU’s chief negotiator has said a no-deal Brexit is now more likely but can still be avoided.
Michel Barnier said a long extension to the UK’s 12 April exit date had “significant risks for the EU” and a “strong justification would be needed”.
France’s President Emmanuel Macron and Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar are meeting in Paris to discuss the impact of Brexit.
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Source: BBC