Brexit vote: Theresa May says 'we may never leave the EU' if MPs reject her deal

Theresa May has warned that if MPs reject her Brexit deal next week “no one knows what will happen” and that the UK may never leave the EU at all.

The prime minister told those preparing to take a decision on her deal in the House of Commons that they should move “past the bitterness” of the debate and back it so the country can more on.

But she also had a pointed message for the EU, demanding it give more ground so a compromise in deadlocked talks can be found, telling Brussels “let’s get it done”.

It comes as talks to find a way out of a disagreement over the vexed issue of the Irish backstop remain at an impasse, with eurosceptic Tories and the DUP demanding alterations as the price for their support.

Speaking in Grimsby, Ms May said the commons would face, “a crucial choice; whether to back the Brexit deal or to reject it.”

She went on: “Back it and the UK will leave the European Union. Reject it and no one knows what will happen.

“We may not leave the EU for many months, we may leave without the protections that the deal provides. We may never leave at all.”

Ms May reminded MPs that 33.5m people had taken part in the 2016 referendum and that the outcome was to leave.

She said: “Brexit does not belong to MPs in parliament. It belongs to the whole country. It belongs to the people who voted for it and want to see it implemented, so we can all move on to a prosperous future.

“And that more prosperous future also belongs to those who voted against Brexit, and who expect politicians to make reasonable compromises to bring our country back together.”

Ms May’s attorney general Geoffrey Cox was in Brussels earlier this week desperately trying to find a way to re-write the Irish backstop – an arrangement which, as it stands in the withdrawal agreement, would see the UK potentially trapped in an indefinite customs union if Britain and EU fail to agree a trade deal by the end of 2020.

The minister is yet to achieve any success, but if he cannot members of the European Research Group of Conservative backbenchers and Ms May’s partners in government have vowed to oppose her deal.

In her speech, the prime minister argued that the agreement on the table does stop cash payments to the EU, stops the free movement of people and ends the jurisdiction of the European Court.

Turning her fire on Brussels, Ms May said: “European leaders tell me they worry that time is running out, and that we only have one chance to get it right. My message to them is: now is the moment for us to act.

“We have worked hard together over two years on the deal. It is a comprehensive deal that provides for an orderly exit from the EU, and that sets a platform for an ambitious future relationship.

“It needs just one more push, to address the final specific concerns of our Parliament. So let’s not hold back. Let’s do what is necessary for MPs to back the deal on Tuesday.”

Ms May attacked Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who she said had made the chances of a second referendum more likely by giving one his backing.

She claimed the Labour leader had offered her “one hour over the last five weeks” despite repeated offers for a meeting from her office.

Labour hit back saying there was “nothing new” in the speech and accused her of “running down the clock” until Brexit. Earlier in the day, Mr Corbyn had said Ms May’s speech “sounds like desperation”.

Downing Street confirmed that the prime minister spoke by phone with counterparts from Bulgaria, Denmark and Portugal on Thursday evening and is expected to make further calls to EU leaders over the coming days.

A Number 10 spokeswoman said the conversations involved the changes Britain is seeking to the backstop as well as issues such as the status of expat citizens after Brexit.

The prime minister is expected to work through the weekend on Brexit from her Maidenhead constituency home, though there are currently no plans for her to travel to Brussels, something which might be necessary if there is a breakthrough in talks.

Negotiations being conducted by officials in Brussels are at a “sensitive and critical stage”, said Number 10, though the added there are currently no plans for Mr Cox to go to the Belgian capital on Friday either, as was once expected.

If Ms May’s withdrawal agreement is not passed by the commons on Tuesday, there is a possibility that subsequent votes on a no-deal Brexit and the extension of Article 50 could both be taken the following day.