Theresa May could formally trigger Brexit as early as Tuesday after European leaders revealed that they were already making preparations for an announcement.
Ministers were increasingly confident that May's Article 50 bill could clear both the Commons and the Lords on Monday, The Telegraph reported on Friday.
The swift passage of the legislation would clear the way for May to trigger Brexit negotiations in the Commons on Tuesday.
The announcement would help May move the debate away from Philip Hammond's Budget. Downing Street has said that Article 50 will be triggered by the end of the month but refused to commit to a date.
It came as Donald Tusk, the head of the European Council, said that EU leaders were prepared to respond within 48 hours of May triggering Brexit.
Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, confirmed that if May invokes Article 50 next week an "extraordinary meeting" of the remaining 27 members of the EU would be held on April 6.
It comes after the Government was defeated in the House of Lords on two amendments to the Article 50 bill.embly elections are not just about who forms the government or who loses face.
(with IANS Inputs)
