THE so-called “moment of truth” on Brexit has been given a new date, Tuesday January 29, the day when MPs will vote not only on Theresa May’s Plan B but also on a People’s Vote, extending the Article 50 process and other options.

Andrea Leadsom, the Commons Leader, made the announcement during parliamentary business questions, making clear there would be a full day’s debate on the matter.

It came as the Prime Minister and her colleagues began a series of meetings with MPs from various parties to try to see if there is a majority for an alternative to her initial proposal, which was overwhelmingly rejected by MPs on Tuesday.

It is expected those going for talks at No 10 will be the Democratic Unionist Party, the anti-EU Tory European Research Group and senior Labour MPs Hilary Benn and Yvette Cooper.

On Monday, Mrs May will set out, as instructed by the Commons, her new proposal. Technically, the PM only has to give a written statement but it is possible the political pressure will be so high that she makes an oral one to MPs.

Then she will have another week or so to continue her charm offensive to convince MPs on both sides of the House that her way is the best way forward.

In the meantime, a stream of amendments will be tabled, including Labour’s position of a customs union and a close relationship with the EU on the single market, the SNP’s call for an extension of the Article 50 process, the Norway-Plus and Canada-Plus options and a People’s Vote.

Labour has already indicated at any stage in the next few days it could table another no-confidence vote in the UK Government, believing that a general election is the best way forward.

This morning, Jeremy Corbyn again rejected the PM’s cross-party talks process, dismissing it as a "stunt".

In a speech in the marginal Conservative constituency of Hastings, the Labour leader called on Mrs May to ditch her negotiation red lines and take the prospect of a no-deal Brexit off the table; something she is not prepared to do.

Mr Corbyn said: "The Prime Minister seems completely unable to grasp what has actually happened. She seems to be prepared to send the country hurtling towards a cliff-edge.

"To get a deal that can command a majority in Parliament, Theresa May has to ditch the red lines and get serious about proposals for the future," he declared.

The Labour leader warned: "If the Government remains intransigent, if support for Labour's alternative is blocked for party advantage and the country is facing the potential disaster of no-deal, our duty will then be to look at other options which we set out in our confidence motion, including that of a public vote."

However, taking questions after his speech at the venue on Hastings' seafront, he left open the question of which side Labour would campaign on in a public vote.

"If a second referendum should take place, then obviously the party will decide what role we will play in that and what our view would be.

"But I can't really go along with the idea it should simply be a re-run of what happened in 2016. There has to be a discussion about the options.”

In the Commons, Ms Leadsom made clear that it was “not possible” to take a no-deal outcome off the table. She claimed removing no-deal as an option would be "an incompetent thing to do".

She explained: "Having passed the EU [Withdrawal] Act, it is the case that the legal default is that the UK will leave the European Union on March 29 and if a deal has not been voted for, then it will be with no-deal unless other alternative arrangements are put in place.

"The people have spoken and it is our job to fulfil in line with the requirements of the people, this House is a servant of the people of this country, the entire United Kingdom."

Ms Leadsom later added: "If you take no-deal off the table and you stop preparing for no-deal, then for a sensible Government that would be totally an incompetent thing to do.

"Government has to continue to prepare for all eventualities, including no-deal, it is not possible to remove no-deal from the table and still abide by the will of the people as expressed in the referendum."

The Leader’s rebuttal came after her Labour Shadow Valerie Vaz asked her if the Government would consider extending the Article 50 process.

She told MPs: "This is the first Government to be held in contempt of Parliament, the Prime Minister had a vote of no confidence from within her own party, a vote of no confidence in the Government which they won yesterday because they have a confidence and supply agreement, but, yet again breaking records, 432 MPs voted against the Prime Minister's deal - the biggest defeat of a government in history."

Pete Wishart for the SNP also mocked ministers, who he said were treating the Brexit defeat as a "mere flesh wound". He said: "Like Monty Python's Black Knight, armless and legless, and fights on prepared to bite the nation into submission."

During Commons business questions, Ms Leadsom also quoted from Winnie-the-Pooh, wishing Speaker John Bercow, with whom she has clashed on a number of occasions, a happy birthday.

She said: "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift, which is why we call it the present.

"On the eve of AA Milne's birthday that's a favourite quote from Winnie-the-Pooh and, as Eeyore said: 'It never hurts to keep looking for sunshine,' and so can I wish you, Mr Speaker, a very happy birthday for Saturday.”

She added: "Finally, can I leave the House with an uplifting and rather wise thought from Winnie-the-Pooh: 'If the person you are talking to doesn't appear to be listening, be patient, it may simply be he has a small piece of fluff in his ear.'"