Theresa May has been forced to axe a "lie" from her big Brexit speech after critics pointed out it was not true.

The Prime Minister made the humiliating U-turn after she was accused of "rewriting history" over a Commons vote 22 years ago.

She sparked the row by making claims about how MPs should accept referendums in a speech at a pottery factory today in Leave-backing Stoke-on-Trent.

In extracts pre-released by Downing Street, Mrs May claimed "both sides" accepted a narrow 1997 referendum on setting up the Welsh Assembly.

But critics pointed out she herself voted against setting up the Assembly three months after that referendum.

And the 2005 Tory manifesto promised a second referendum whose options would have included abolishing the Assembly.

Plaid Cymru Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts said she was showing either "a selective memory, wilful hypocrisy or simply lying."

She said before the speech: "Mrs May’s revisionist history shows a disregard for Wales, devolution and democracy.

"The Prime Minister should retract the statement and apologise."

In the end, when Mrs May gave her speech, the key quote was watered down.

Here’s what she was due to say – and what she actually said.

See if you can spot the difference.

What Theresa May was due to say

(Changes in bold)

She was due to say: "On the rare occasions when Parliament puts a question to the British people directly we have always understood that their response carries a profound significance.

"When the people of Wales voted by a margin of 0.3%, on a turnout of just over 50%, to endorse the creation of the Welsh Assembly, that result was accepted by both sides and the popular legitimacy of that institution has never seriously been questioned.

"Parliament understood this fact when it voted overwhelmingly to trigger Article 50.

"And both major parties did so too when they stood on election manifestos in 2017 that pledged to honour the result of the referendum.”

She was due to add: "Imagine if an anti-devolution House of Commons had said to the people of Scotland or Wales that despite voting in favour of a devolved legislature, Parliament knew better and would over-rule them. Or else force them to vote again."

What Theresa May said

(Changes in bold)

"On the rare occasions when Parliament puts a question to the British people directly we have always understood that their response carries a profound significance.

"When the people of Wales voted by a margin of 0.3%, on a turnout of just over 50%, to endorse the creation of the Welsh Assembly, that result was accepted by Parliament.

"Indeed we have never had a referendum in the United Kingdom that we have not honoured the result of.

"Parliament understood this fact when it voted overwhelmingly to trigger Article 50.

"And both major parties did so too when they stood on election manifestos in 2017 that pledged to honour the result of the referendum."

She added: "The House of Commons did not say to the people of Scotland or Wales that despite voting in favour of a devolved legislature, Parliament knew better and would over-rule them. Or else force them to vote again."

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