WORCESTER’S MP has said the attempt to block no deal through a Commons bill may have accidentally made it more likely.

MPs passed a bill by one vote yesterday forcing the Prime Minister to ask for an extension to Article 50, beyond the current date of April 12 when the UK is due to leave the European Union.

In a rare move the bill, brought by Labour MP Yvette Cooper, was rushed through with it dramatically being passed on a knife-edge vote of 313 votes to 312.

It is unusual for a bill to go through within a few hours as legislation usually takes weeks or months to pass through Parliament, and it is also rare for it to get through the Commons without Government support.

But Robin Walker warned the bill could actually have the opposite effect to what was intended.

He explained Theresa May would be expected to get an extension with the EU at a European Council meeting on April 10, with MPs voting to support it the following day, and that would in fact not leave enough time to complete the necessary paperwork before the UK is scheduled to leave a week today.

Mr Walker told the Commons: “There is a real risk created by this bill that we could be timed out and unable to agree an extension with our European partners.

“This bill actually increases the likelihood of an accidental no deal, an outcome this house has repeatedly voted against.

"We would need to confirm UK agreement to the EU proposal and get an EU council decision before 11pm on April 12.

"I struggle to see how we could carry out such a negotiation through correspondence in 24 hours before we leave.”

Today the House of Lords was set to debate the bill, which will need their approval to become law.

Meanwhile Mr Walker reiterated to MPs earlier that pursuing a second referendum was not government policy. Mr Walker spoke after Chancellor Philip Hammond told ITV show Peston that a referendum on any Brexit deal was “perfectly credible”, which led the DUP to accuse the government of preparing for a U turn.

The city MP said: “A second referendum would create further uncertainty and further division.

"We don’t think it’s the right way forward.”

READ MORE: Worcester MP Robin Walker in fiery interview on national radio station