Talks between the UK Government and Labour aimed at breaking the Brexit deadlock are set to resume, with both parties facing internal pressures ahead of next month's European elections.
Tories fear the May 23 poll could result in a mauling for Theresa May if she proves unable to deliver the Brexit that Britons voted for almost three years ago.
The contest is also forcing Labour to clarify its position on a second referendum, with Jeremy Corbyn and the party's National Executive Committee under pressure from MPs and MEPs to back a vote on any Brexit deal.
Senior Tories have said they still hope the elections - and the threat posed by Nigel Farage's Brexit Party - can be avoided if a compromise deal can get through Parliament before polling day, allowing the contest to be cancelled.
But Labour has played down the prospects of a breakthrough in the cross-party talks, accusing May of refusing to change her Brexit red lines.
Further talks are expected between the two sides on Monday afternoon.
A showdown over Labour's position on a second referendum is also expected at a meeting of its National Executive Committee on Tuesday.
Some 115 MPs and MEPs signed a letter to NEC members organised by the Love Socialism, Hate Brexit group urging them to explicitly back a referendum.
Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson used his Twitter account to urge followers to lobby NEC members to back a public vote, while 22 Labour candidates in the European elections pledged to campaign for a referendum.
But calls for a second referendum are divisive within Labour's top ranks, with concerns the party could alienate voters in Leave-supporting heartlands.
The Tories want to avoid the May 23 election if possible, with polls suggesting Mrs May's party lies a distant third behind Mr Farage's Brexit Party and Labour.
Conservative chairman Brandon Lewis acknowledged "huge frustration" among grassroots members and activists as he pleaded with them to stick with their own party rather than Mr Farage's.
"I fully appreciate the huge frustration that particularly our members and councillors have, that we haven't left the EU yet and we might have to fight these elections at all. But if we do, I hope they'll vote Conservative," he told the BBC.
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