KEY dates in countdown to Brexit:

Aug 24 - G7 summit in Biarritz.

PM will make his first appearance at major global summit when world leaders meet in France. Trump will be there, providing opportunity for two leaders to talk up special relationship and future trade deal.

Johnson will also seek to court EU leaders to convince them to reopen Withdrawal Agreement but UK ministers believe Brussels is waiting to see if MPs can scupper no-deal Brexit before making any concessions.

Sep 3 - MPs return from recess.

Commons will return following summer break, providing opposition parties with chance to force no confidence vote in Government. Labour has stressed it will only table motion if party believes it can win.

Sep 4 - Government publishes Northern Ireland progress report on restoring devolved government at Stormont.

MPs successfully amended legislation to thwart no-deal Brexit and mean report has to be debated in Commons within five days.

Sep 6 – legal bid by MPs to stop PM forcing through no-deal Brexit.

Substantive hearing at Edinburgh’s Court of Session will hear argument that suspending UK Parliament to allow country to leave without deal would be "unlawful and unconstitutional".

Sep 9 - No-deal legislative showdown.

MPs likely to debate N Ire progress report on this date, which Government sources believe could be first major legislative showdown over no-deal Brexit. Speculation MPs who oppose this could use this time to try to legislate against no-deal.

Sep 24 - UN General Assembly meeting in New York.

This will provide another opportunity for Mr Johnson to appear on global stage and set out his vision for post-Brexit UK’s place in world.

Sep 29 - Conservative Party conference in Manchester.

This will provide key test of new Tory leader's ability to unite party and enable him to address nation in closing speech just month to go before Brexit.

Oct 31 - deadline for reaching Brexit deal.

Unless there is another extension, this will be Britain’s last day as EU member and it will leave, with or without an agreement, at 11pm.