Tories refuse to back Theresa May’s Brexit deal unless she reveals date she’ll quit

THERESA May should set a date for quitting as PM after Brexit if she wants MPs to vote for her deal, Tories have said.

The Prime Minister is under pressure from her Cabinet to say when she will go as she fights to get her agreement through Parliament - as another Tory MP announced he had submitted a letter of no confidence in her.

Mrs May embarks on a tour of the UK and a two-week media blitz later today as she faces the fight of her life to get MPs and the public to back her.

But Tory Andrew Lewer said yesterday he had put in his own letter to Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbenchers.

A confidence vote is triggered if Sir Graham receives 48.

Cabinet sources told The Times that a promise from Mrs May to quit after Brexit day on March 29 would help get her deal through the Commons.

They think whoever replaces her could then fight for a better trade deal in future.

One told the paper: "We know that the future relationship is not binding. This means she is the problem, not the deal per se, since it leaves plenty of flexibility for a successor to organise technical solutions for the Irish border and move towards Canada."

In another day of drama in Westminster:

• Donald Trump slammed the deal as "great for the EU" and claimed it could stop Britain trading with the US
• In an interview with The Sun Mrs May hit back at Emmanuel Macron over threats to blackmail Britain on fishing
• She confirmed a live TV clash with her and Jeremy Corbyn would happen on the same night as the I'm a Celebrity final
• Later the European Court of Justice will hear a case on whether the UK could cancel Brexit
• A new economic analysis of Mrs May's deal says it could hit the nation's finances by up to 1.8 per cent of GDP in the long-term
• And ex-Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon joined the wave of opposition against the Prime Minister's deal, blasting it as "the worst of all worlds" and a deal that is "doomed"

Speaking to Radio 4 this morning, Sir Michael said it was up to Tory MPs to decide whether she should stay as leader.

The former party loyalist even suggested that it could be possible to "postpone the actual leaving date for two or three weeks" and send negotiators back to Brussels.

"This is not a good deal, we need a better deal," he said.

"We have to get this right."

Last night No10 held a briefing for Labour MPs to beg them for help passing May's deal through Parliament.

The PM's Chief of Staff Gavin Barwell urged opponents to recognise her "tenacity" in getting an agreement, and said it was the "best available".

Cabinet minister David Lidington said this morning that the deal gave something for both Leavers and Remainers.

He insisted: "The people who voted leave are getting quitting the EU, control of money, borders and laws.

"People who voted remain are the assurance of a better economic relationship than Canada, Norway."

And he said there was "no plan B" because the EU is saying the deal on the table was a compromise for them.