Mrs May, speaking in the House of Commons earlier today (Image: AFP/Getty Images)
But bookmakers rate her chances of getting her legislation passed at just three percent, and are also offering short odds on a devastating defeat by 200 votes or more. Mrs May’s Brexit divorce deal goes before MPs tomorrow – but Professor Tony Travers, director of LSE London, a research group based at the London School of Economics, said so resigned were she and her allies to defeat they were already in the business of damage limitation. He said: “It seems to me that the general news being bandied around, possibly by the Government itself, is about a defeat of 200 votes or more.
This way, anything below 100 votes would seem almost like a win, and would encourage her to try again
Professor Tony Travers
“This way, anything below 100 votes would seem almost like a win, and would encourage her to try again.
“By delaying the vote from December, she’s probably averted an even heavier defeat and the thinking seems to be if we wait a bit longer, we can get it even closer.
“I’m not saying that’s right, but I certainly think that’s part of their thinking.”
Mr Travers suggested anything much over 100 would be very damaging to Mrs May “much as it is in cricket” and would probably persuade Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to table a vote of no confidence in her Government – although this was far from certain to be approved.
Mrs May is facing a substantial defeat tomorrow: the question is, by how much (Image: GETTY)
A heavy defeat is likely to prompt Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to table a no-confidence motion (Image: GETTY)
He said: “It depends whether pro-Brexit MPs
