'A metaphor for the Irish backstop': Theresa May gets locked inside her car as she arrives to meet Angela Merkel

Prime Minister Theresa May today became locked inside her car as she arrived for lunch with Angela Merkel in Berlin.

Security officials were filmed spending 12 seconds trying to open the door to the car as the Prime Minister sat inside ahead of a meeting with the German Chancellor.

In the clip Ms Merkel can be seen waiting patiently outside the car to greet Mrs May, who laughs off the blunder as she steps out to shake hands with the Chancellor.

Brits seized the opportunity to draw comparisons between the mishap and her handling of the Brexit process.

It came as the PM embarked on an emergency tour of European capitals to seek legally binding reassurances over the Northern Ireland backstop.

A clip of the awkward exchange shared by Sky News on Twitter was retweeted by thousands on Tuesday.

Hundreds replied with Brexit-related jokes in the wake of a U-turn by the Government over the meaningful vote on Mrs May's deal.

Some, including journalist Kevin Schofield, compared the incident to the controversial Irish backstop.

He quipped: "Siri: Show me a metaphor for the Northern Ireland backstop."

SNP MP Peter Grant wrote: "The car is a BMW backstop."

And the footage was also taken as an indicator of the PM's personal views on Brexit.

Gary Lineker joked: "She knows it's best to remain, but reluctantly she feels she must leave."

While another man, known as @AndyMarshall7 on Twitter, replied: "Knew she always wanted to Remain."

EU leaders have rebuffed calls to reopen talks on Britain’s “divorce deal”, with EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker saying: "There is no room for renegotiation, but further clarifications are possible."

The pressure is also on for Mrs May back home as former Conservative party leader Iain Duncan Smith signalled he may write a letter of no confidence in the Prime Minister if she fails to get significant changes to the deal.

Steve Baker, vice-chairman of the European Research Group of Brexiteers, issued a fresh appeal to MPs to write letters to ensure at least 48 are sent to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbenchers, to trigger a no-confidence vote.

Brexiteers claim that more than 40 letters have already been sent.

Mr Duncan Smith has previously stressed his reluctance to write a letter, having himself suffered the turmoil of being ousted as leader.

But after Mrs May humiliatingly pulled the meaningful vote on her Brexit plans yesterday, Mr Duncan Smith signalled he would consider sending a letter if she returns after talks in European capitals and tries to push through the Irish backstop without a legally binding escape clause.

The decision to delay the vote was condemned in the Commons on Monday, with Speaker John Bercow saying it was "deeply discourteous" to postpone.

Jeremy Corbyn said that if Mrs May "cannot be clear that she can and will renegotiate a deal then she must make way,” adding: "The Government has lost control of events and is in complete disarray."

Lib Dem leader Vince Cable said the Government had completely lost control and that he would support Labour if it chose to issue a no confidence motion against the Government.

DUP leader Arlene Fosters, whose MPs prop up Mrs May's Government, said the Government's approach to Brexit is "chaotic".