Goverment may have broken Parliamentary rules by not publishing Brexit legal advice.

The UK government may have broken Parliamentary rules by not publishing Brexit legal advice, the Commons Speaker has said.

BBC reports John Bercow said there was an “arguable case” that a contempt of Parliament has been committed.

It means MPs will debate and vote on Tuesday on whether or not to refer the case to the Standards Committee.

Meanwhile The Independent reports Conservative MPs have attacked the government after a paper setting out official legal advice on Theresa May’s Brexit deal, confirmed Britain cannot leave the arrangement it creates without the EU’s agreement.

The command paper which summarises the advice given to the cabinet from the attorney general, says that the controversial Irish ‘backstop’ will apply “unless and until” it is superseded by alternative arrangements agreed between Brussels and London.

A further section of the document states clearly that “it is not possible under international law” for the UK to escape the withdrawal agreement unilaterally once it is in force.

The summary has been released by the government in an attempt to assuage a motion passed by the Commons that the full legal advice relating to Ms May’s deal be published – something ministers have refused to do.