There have been reports that ministers will produce the bill as early as today and that parliamentary debates could begin next week.

Within hours of publication of the Government’s bill, pro-Remain MPs will begin tabling dozens of amendments which pro-Leave MPs claim are part of a plot to sabotage Brexit.

After Theresa May bowed to pressure from MPs to produce a Brexit white paper, the Brexit Secretary David Davis will face questions from MPs on what it will contain and when it will be published.

Downing Street would only say the white paper would be published “in due course” and insisted it will be entirely separate from the Article 50 process and legislation.

But with Labour MPs badly split on how to respond to the Article 50 bill, Jeremy Corbyn and his shadow cabinet will meet to decide whether to order backbenchers to vote for the legislation.

After Mr Corbyn said last week he would “ask” his MPs to vote for the Government’s bill, he immediately faced a revolt from inside the shadow cabinet and among his backbenchers.

It is estimated up to 60 Labour MPs – mostly representing constituencies that voted to remain in the EU – are threatening to defy Mr Corbyn and vote against the Article 50 process.

Shadow minister Tulip Siddiq, MP for Hampstead and Kilburn, said: “Three quarters of my constituents voted Remain and I will stand up for them.

“If it means stepping down from the front bench then that would be unfortunate – but it’s something which I’ve considered.”