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Latest Brexit news: Just days left for Theresa May to save her deal as fierce opposition from MPs shows no sign of letting up

Tough week ahead: Theresa May: AP
Tough week ahead: Theresa May: AP

Theresa May has just days left until MPs vote on her crunch Brexit deal which could decide her political fate.

Mrs May faces a scramble to persuade the Commons to back her deal after fierce opposition to her plans showed no signs of letting up over the weekend.

Staunch Brexiteer Boris Johnson refused to rule out a leadership bid during an interview with the BBC’s Andrew Marr on Sunday and insisted Mrs May’s withdrawal deal did not need to include the Irish backstop and that he “earnestly hoped” it was voted down on Tuesday.

Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay insisted that the vote would still go ahead amid speculation Mrs May might be forced to delay the vote in a last-ditch effort to avoid defeat and go back to Brussels to ask for more.

Boris Johnson speaks on the Andrew Marr Show on Sunday (Jeff Overs/BBC/PA)
Boris Johnson speaks on the Andrew Marr Show on Sunday (Jeff Overs/BBC/PA)

European Council President Donald Tusk fuelled speculation further by tweeting that he had spoken to Mrs May on the phone on Sunday and that this week was “an important week for the fate of Brexit.”

Former Cabinet ministers Esther McVey and Dominic Raab, who also quit over the PM’s Brexit plans, also refused to rule out leadership bids. Although Mr Raab backed Mrs May again to stay on if the deal was voted down and to go back to lead negotiations with the EU.

On Monday, the European Court of Justice was due to rule on whether the UK can unilaterally revoke Article 50 and cancel Brexit without the permission of the other EU member states.

Dominic Raab speaks on the Andrew Marr show on Sunday (BBC/Reuters)
Dominic Raab speaks on the Andrew Marr show on Sunday (BBC/Reuters)

Last week, a senior adviser to the court wrote to judges expressing his legal opinion that the UK could.

Ahead of Mrs May's crucial vote on Tuesday, cross-party politicians debated the future of the country, with Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg lashing out at the PM's Brexit plan.

The Channel 4 debate was shown on Sunday evening (PA)
The Channel 4 debate was shown on Sunday evening (PA)

He said the deal "does not do what the Prime Minister said" on the customs union, the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice and a border between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

"There are 68 pages of laws that will apply in Northern Ireland that will be adjudicated and made by the European Union," he said

Ms Lucas put forward a counter argument in favour of a People's Vote.

She said: "Why don't we just go back and check they are still happy with this?"

Ms Lucas put forward that younger people would be more betrayed than anyone else.

She added: “One thing that is already clear by tonight is that this decision cannot be left to the politicians. We simply can’t agree.

“This not a parlour game or debating society. These are real people with real lives”

To the sound of applause, she said: “Don’t leave it to the Westminster elite to decide for you.”