British Prime Minister Theresa May is urging restive politicians to "hold their nerve" and give her more time to rework a divorce agreement with the European Union.
With Brexit just 45 days away, May was due to update the House of Commons on the state of negotiations, a day earlier than planned to give politicians more time to "digest" the remarks before a series of votes on Thursday.
Some politicians want to use those votes to impose conditions on May's government in an attempt to rule out a cliff-edge "no deal" Brexit and steer the UK toward a close relationship with the EU after Brexit.
Prime Minister Theresa May gives a statement about progress on Brexit talks to MPs in the the House of Commons, London. Source: AAP
May is seeking to buy time.
The prime minister's office said she would tell parliament that "the talks are at a crucial stage. We now all need to hold our nerve to get the changes this House has required and deliver Brexit on time."
Britain is scheduled to leave the bloc on March 29. Parliament last month rejected May's deal with the EU, in part over a contentious plan to keep the border between the UK's Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland obstacle-free after Brexit.
The measure, known as the backstop, is a safeguard mechanism that would keep the UK in a customs union with the EU and removes the need for checks along the border, until a permanent new trading relationship is in place.
Pro-Brexit British politicians fear it could trap the UK in regulatory lockstep with the EU, unable to strike new trade deals around the world.
May and other Cabinet ministers are holding talks with senior EU officials in an attempt to add a time limit or an exit clause to the backstop.
But EU leaders insist the legally binding withdrawal agreement can't be changed.
Prime Minister Theresa May (back centre left) before giving a statement about progress on Brexit talks to MPs in the the House of Commons, London. Source: AAP
May's political opponents accuse the government of deliberately running down the clock until politicians face a last-minute choice between her deal and no deal.
Uncertainty about what trade relationship Britain will have with the bloc after Brexit is weighing on the UK economy
Figures released Monday showed Britain's economy slowed last year to its joint-slowest annual rate since 2009 with business investment declining for four straight quarters.
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