THE creator of the process for exiting the EU today claims there is a “clear and viable route” to staging a People’s Vote on Brexit.

Lord Kerr of Kinlochard, who as Secretary General of the European Convention wrote Article 50, said the UK Government’s letter triggering the withdrawal process could be withdrawn and if Westminster willed it, there were “multiple routes” to holding another referendum on Britain’s future.

The Scottish peer’s comments - set to be ridiculed by the pro-Brexit factions and rejected by Theresa May’s Government - came after Sir Vince Cable told the Liberal Democrat conference that Brexit was “not inevitable” and urged Labour to dump Jeremy Corbyn if the Leader of the Opposition did not “fight Brexit” and back a People’s Vote.

And last night, in a potentially significant development, Michel Barnier made clear the EU was ready to come forward with an "improved" proposal on the Irish border "backstop" to reassure the British it would not lead to the creation of a frontier between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

Declaring how Brussels wanted to respect the constitutional integrity of the Union, the EU27’s chief negotiator said: "We are attempting to improve our proposals. What we are talking about here is not a border - not a land border, not a sea border; it is a set of technical checks and controls."

Mr Barnier also told a news conference in Brussels the European Council on October 18/19 would be the “moment of truth” when it would become clear whether or not the two sides could agree a Brexit deal.

"It is then we shall see if agreement we are hoping for is in our grasp," he declared.

His comments came as the Prime Minister prepares for tonight’s dinner at an informal EU summit in Salzburg, where she will seek to get support for her Chequers Plan from fellow European leaders.

She is expected to warn them in clear terms that rejection of her compromise proposals by MPs would lead to a damaging no-deal.

In a further sign of Mrs May's attempts to build support for the Chequers Plan, she met Manfred Weber, leader of the EPP - the main centre-right group in the European Parliament - in Downing Street on Tuesday.

A No 10 spokesman said: "On Brexit, Weber recognised the Chequers proposals were a step forward and stressed the priority the European Parliament placed on resolving questions relating to the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland as well as to maintaining the integrity of the single market.”

Speaking ahead of the Salzburg summit, Lord Callanan, the Brexit minister, said Britain had shown flexibility and now it was time for Brussels to “reciprocate”.

"If we are to get a deal there has to be compromises from both sides,” he insisted.

Elsewhere, UK police chiefs agreed that the policing response to Brexit should be delivered at a UK level, including dealing with any civil disruption in the wake of withdrawal, while recognising Scotland's "distinct constitutional arrangements".

Humza Yousaf, the Scottish Government’s Justice Secretary, said while he commended Police Scotland's offer of mutual assistance to other forces, the decision was a “stark reminder of the hugely damaging impact Brexit could have on our security capabilities”.

The Roadmap to A People’s Vote, written by Lord Kerr, states: “There would be no difficulty obtaining an extension of the Article 50 timetable to allow a People's Vote to take place. If Parliament judged that it was necessary to delay the March 29 deadline so that it could consult the people in a democratic vote, the Government would not face any political or procedural obstacle to this.”

It adds: “If there is a deal, the most pressing question for the country would be whether that deal is better than the one we already have inside the EU. And if there is no deal, the country deserves the right to say whether it nevertheless still wants Brexit.”

The crossbench peer said: “The die is not irrevocably cast, there is still time and, until the UK has left the EU, the Article 50 letter can be withdrawn.

“If there is a majority in Parliament for a People’s Vote, there are multiple routes to securing one and, as the process unfolds, more opportunities for the House of Commons to assert its will may emerge.

“Should the UK need more time for a People’s Vote, there is little doubt that the other 27 member states would agree the necessary extension of the Article 50 timetable,” added Lord Kerr.

“History will not be kind to any politician who hides behind purely logistical arguments, legalese or arcane parliamentary procedure to deny people a vote on the outcome of these Brexit negotiations at such a fragile and crucial moment for our country,” he added.