Boris Johnson has signalled he could back the Prime Minister's Brexit deal, but only if his preferred "Canada-style deal" on a future trading relationship with the EU is realised.
Speaking at a Telegraph event on Tuesday, the former Foreign Secretary said he was "not there yet" on backing Theresa May's controversial deal but warned that Brexit may not happen if it is defeated again.
"If we vote it down again there is an appreciable and growing sense that we will not leave at all. That is the risk," journalists at the event quoted him as saying.
It comes as the Prime Minister is battling to secure backing for her Brexit deal before the end of the week.
While Jacob Rees-Mogg has made a U-turn on Brexit and tonight urged hardline Eurosceptics to back the deal after MPs dramatically voted to seize control of the process of leaving the European Union on Monday.
Writing in the Daily Mail he said the PM's deal is now the only way to ensure the UK leaves the EU.
"I have come to this view because the numbers in Parliament make it clear that all the other potential outcomes are worse and an awkward reality needs to be faced," he said.
Mr Johnson on Tuesday set out his red lines for supporting the deal to shouts from the audience. One reader reportedly heckled "you are defeatist".
But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the Government must "take this process seriously".
Labour's Hilary Benn, chairman of the Brexit Select Committee and one of the main supporters of Sir Oliver's plan, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "If the Government isn't going to do its job, then Parliament is going to have to take responsibility, and that is what we are doing on Wednesday."
