Theresa May made a last-ditch attempt to convince MPs to back her Brexit deal, as she warned that parliament could block Britain's withdrawal from the EU.
Speaking ahead of tomorrow's "meaningful vote" on her proposed agreement, the prime minister admitted she had failed to secure a legally-binding time limit on the controversial Northern Ireland backstop.
But she insisted her plan was the only way to avoid a no-deal Brexit and guarantee that Britain exits the EU as planned.
Delivering a speech at a factory in Stoke, Ms May claimed some in Westminster would use “every device available to them” to “delay or even stop Brexit”.
She hailed letters of clarification on the backstop that were published by EU leaders Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk on the eve of the vote, but admitted she "did not achieve" a time limit on the controversial backstop.
“What if we found ourselves in a situation where parliament tried to take the UK out of the EU in opposition to a Remain vote?” she said.
“People’s faith in the democratic process and their politicians would suffer catastrophic harm.”
As it happened...
Nick Boles, who plans to vote for Theresa May's Brexit deal, told BBC Radio 4's Today:
This bill would do the following: it would give the Government three more weeks to get a compromise deal, a plan B, through Parliament so that we are leaving the EU on time on March 29 with a deal.
If that failed, it would then ask the Liaison Committee, which is the committee of all the chairs of select committees and other parliamentary committees, it would give the Liaison Committee the responsibility to try and come up with its own compromise deal, which would have to go back to the House for a vote.
If the House passed that compromise deal, then the Government would be legally required to implement whatever it was that they had.
The Prime Minister will seek to make a statement in the House of Commons today outlining the assurances she had had from the European Union following discussions over the last few days and I hope my colleagues will listen to those and recognise the best way forward is to support the Government's agreement because it delivers on the referendum result and does so in a way that minimises the risks to our economy.
Esther McVey told BBC Breakfast the civil service have been "working incredibly hard on no deal planning preparations", adding that many of the fear stories do not exist.
We have got the licences in place so that medicines can come to and fro. We also know that because we will be in charge of our borders things will be imported into the country because we are in charge of that.
A Labour MP has declared he will back Theresa May's Brexit deal, warning the referendum result must be respected or the party will face "dire" consequences at the ballot box.
Sir Kevin Barron said the Prime Minister's Withdrawal Agreement is the only option on the table that "truly enacts the promises that I made to my constituents and avoids the horror of a no-deal Brexit".
Let's listen to the debate, let's watch the balance of forces within Parliament itself. Those are the sort of judgments we will have to make. It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when. It's just a matter of timing so watch this space over the next 24 hours.
Mr Johnson said: "In retrospect if I had my time again I might have done things differently."
I think, possibly, some colleagues are being scared by this idea that there might be no Brexit as a result of voting it down. I think that's nonsense.
Britain will leave in March, absolutely, and that's the bottom line.
I notice all this stuff about complicated jiggery-pokery for Parliament to frustrate the deal.
I don't think that really can be done. I think that we are really playing with fire.
I think that people will feel betrayed.
And I think they will feel that there has been a great conspiracy by the deep state of the UK, the people who really run the country.
The amendment backs Theresa May's deal which states that the backstop must end by 31 December 2022.
The South-West Wiltshire MP, who announced over the weekend that he would be backing Mrs May's deal, denied claims the amendment was being tabled on behalf of the Government.
Conservative minister Liam Fox claims no-deal Brexit would not be 'national suicide'
The Independent'I think no deal would damage our economy, I’ve been frank about that, but I think it’s survivable. I think no Brexit, politically, is a disaster'
The Independent has launched its #FinalSay campaign to demand that voters are given a voice on the final Brexit deal.
Sign our petition here
