What will happen in the Brexit talks this week?

Theresa May will return to the Commons after the bank holiday weekend in no doubt that any Brexit ceasefire is well and truly over.

Labour and Tory MPs had stayed relatively quiet in the run up to last week's local elections for fear of rocking the boat.

But the grim results for both parties have been interpreted – rightly or wrongly – as a Brexit backlash from voters furious at Labour's equivocation and government delays to Britain's departure from the EU.

It sets the scene for what is shaping up to be another big Brexit week, with cross-party talks due to resume on Tuesday between Labour and the government on a way forward.

Initially dismissed as going nowhere, speculation mounted last week that the talks were close to reaching a breakthrough.

But Ms May infuriated Labour when reports appeared in newspapers over the weekend, suggesting she was prepared to compromise on a temporary customs union, goods alignment and workers' rights.

Senior Labour figures poured cold water on the idea of progress, with John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, accusing the prime minister of jeopardising the talks by "blowing the confidentiality" of their discussions.

The news also set hares running among different Brexit factions.

Tory veteran Nigel Evans said that up to 100 Conservative MPs could defy the prime minister if she agreed to a softer Brexit to win over Labour.

Sources campaigning for a Final Say vote suggested that more than half of Labour MPs could vote against such a deal if it came without a confirmatory referendum attached.

Despite pledges that the local election drubbing had inspired both parties to get on with Brexit, it seems that nothing has changed.

If Labour and the government do come to an agreement, it will still have to pass through the Commons where there is no majority for any Brexit outcome.

Time is rapidly running out until the European elections on 23 May – a contest the Tories are reluctant to fight.

However Ms May's failure to pass her Brexit deal means the UK must stand candidates.

In theory, the UK could cancel its participation by reaching an agreement by 22 May but the EU is insistent that parliament must pass all the necessary legislation in time – which could take weeks.

Downing Street is privately resigned to the fact that the elections are certain to go ahead.

With Nigel Farage's new Brexit party surging in the polls, and newly formed Change UK pushing for pro-EU voters, both main parties will be under pressure to come up with a plan – or face a dismal result at the ballot box.