Theresa May ready to ditch her Brexit deal and trigger two-year exit delay if defeated for a third time

THERESA May is ready to ditch her Brexit deal rather than face a third humiliating defeat.

The PM will not force a vote this week unless she is convinced she has the support to get it through.

PA:Press Association

Theresa May is ready to ditch her Brexit deal rather than face a third humiliating defeat – which could spark a two-year delay to leaving the EU[/caption]

In a stark message to dithering Tory MPs, she vowed there will be no fourth attempt if she fails this time.

She warned it will almost certainly lead to a two-year delay and declared bluntly: “It hardly bears thinking about.”

With just 12 days until departure day, it would mean going back to square one – handing over billions to the EU and fighting the European elections.

Ministers are pinning their hopes on talks aimed at wooing the DUP’s ten MPs behind the deal.

BIG GUNS NEED TO CHANGE THEIR MINDS

Several Eurosceptic Tories who have twice voted it down are ready to re-think if the Ulster Unionists climb on board.

Last night former Cabinet minister Esther McVey revealed she will “hold her nose” and vote for the deal if it comes back to the Commons this week.

Tory big guns Iain Duncan Smith and Jacob Rees-Mogg are among 20 or more Eurosceptics who could also be persuaded to change their minds.

The DUP said there are “still issues to be discussed” with the government to convince them Northern Ireland will be treated no differently from the rest of the UK under the deal’s backstop clause.

But they insisted that extra cash for the province was not being discussed.

Mrs May has a three-day window to call a vote before she goes to the European Council in Brussels on Thursday.

She said if MPs back the deal, she will seek a short technical extension to Article 50 to pass the necessary laws.

But she added: “The alternative if Parliament cannot agree the deal by that time is much worse.”

TAXPAYER BILLIONS INTO EU COFFERS

It would mean holding EU elections in May at a cost to taxpayers of £108 million – and pouring billions of pounds more into EU coffers.

Mrs May said: “The idea of the British people going to the polls to elect MEPs three years after voting to leave the EU hardly bears thinking about.

“There could be no more potent symbol of Parliament’s collective failure.”

Government chief whip  Julian Smith has been accused of “double standards” for refusing to discipline MP Nick Boles for quitting his Conservative association.

Mr Boles resigned yesterday amid efforts by local activists to deselect him for opposing  a “no deal” Brexit.

But he vowed to stay on as Grantham and Stamford MP and  take the Tory whip if it was offered to him on “acceptable terms”.

Mr Smith said Mr Boles continued to be a “valuable member” of the party.

PA:Press Association/PA Images

Former Cabinet minister Esther McVey revealed she will ‘hold her nose’ and vote for the deal if it comes back to the Commons this week[/caption]

Getty Images - Getty

Tory big guns, including Jacob Rees-Mogg, are among 20 or more Eurosceptics who could also be persuaded to vote for the PM’s deal if the DUP come on board[/caption]

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