An attempt by British MPs to prevent a no-deal Brexit is gaining momentum after the opposition Labour Party said it is highly likely to support the bid.
Prime Minister Theresa May is battling to break the deadlock on the issue after last week's crushing defeat of her two-year attempt to forge an orderly divorce from the EU, raising the prospect of an exit without a deal.
In a step that could overturn centuries of constitutional convention, some MPs are trying to grab control of Brexit from the government in an attempt to prevent what they say would be an economically disastrous no-deal Brexit.
Labour is "highly likely" to back one such attempt, an amendment proposed by Labour lawmaker Yvette Cooper that could result in May being given until February 26 to get a deal approved by parliament or face a parliamentary vote on delaying Brexit until the end of 2019.
"Yvette Cooper has put an amendment down which I think is sensible," John McDonnell, the second most powerful man in the Labour Party, told the BBC.
When asked whether Labour would back the amendment, he said: "Highly likely."
May has warned that thwarting Brexit will threaten social cohesion because it will undermine the belief in British democracy.
Parliament will vote on January 29 on the different options.
One alternative is that May gets enough concessions from the EU to win over rebels in her Conservative Party as well as the Northern Irish party which props up her minority government.
Some have indicated they could be won over if May manages to secure concessions on the so-called Northern Irish backstop, an insurance policy to keep the border open between the British province and Ireland if a future trade deal falls short.
More than 430 lawmakers voted against May's deal last week, the biggest defeat of a government in modern history.
To get it passed this time, she needs more than 100 of those to change sides.
