Brexit: Theresa May pushes ahead with crunch vote despite pleas from cabinet ministers to delay to avoid defeat

'We are in the middle of five days of debate in parliament, which will lead up to a vote on this issue,' says May

Theresa May will push ahead with the crunch Brexit vote despite pleas from senior ministers to delay the clash to head off near-certain defeat.

The prime minister was grilled over whether she could pull next week’s “meaningful vote” in the face of opposition from all sides, to give whips more time to win over wavering MPs or to reach out to Brussels for further concessions.

Cabinet ministers such as Amber Rudd, Sajid Javid and Gavin Williamson have reportedly urged Ms May to delay the Commons showdown on Tuesday - and her DUP allies have stepped up threats to bring down the government if the deal goes ahead.

Ms May told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We are in the middle of five days of debate in parliament, which will lead up to a vote on this issue."

The prime minister has stepped up efforts to sell her Brexit deal ahead of Tuesday's vote, with intensive efforts to win over Tory rebels, including the prospect of a "parliamentary lock" that gives MPs a vote before the Irish backstop is applied.

She acknowledged MPs were worried about the plan, telling Today: "I recognise that there are those concerns. Any deal, any agreement, any arrangement that we came to with the European Union would involve a backstop.

"So, people talk about, 'let's have a Norway, or let's have a Canada', everything involves a backstop."

Ms May said she was in talks with MPs about how parliament "can have a role going into that and coming out" of the backstop, an controversial insurance policy to prevent a hard border in Northern Ireland.

Asked whether the MPs would be given a separate vote on the backstop, the prime minister said: "The backstop is an integral part of the [Brexit deal], but the backstop would be integral part of any withdrawal agreement and of any deal that was negotiated with the European Union."

She refused to say if she had a plan B in case her deal was voted down, adding: "That question is not for me, that question is for those who say that they want to oppose this deal."

The prime minister also signalled that MPs could decide whether the UK went into a backstop or extended the transition period.

It comes as the DUP restated their opposition to deal, saying they would bring down the government if Ms May's deal was approved.

Asked directly if they would precipitate an election, Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson said: "If it comes to the point where the government makes, shows, a determination to implement the withdrawal agreement with its damaging terms at present, or some future version of it, which is still equally damaging, we will not be supporting the government."

He threatened to end the confidence and supply agreement where his MPs prop up Ms May's government over the deal, which the DUP believe separate Northern Ireland from the rest of the United Kingdom.

"If they [the government] renege on those promises now, or in the future, we always have that leverage," he said.

Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg told the European Research Group on Wednesday that the DUP had assured him they would support the government in a confidence motion if, and only if, the Brexit deal is voted down.

Chief Whip Julian Smith also attended the meeting, where he was said to be in "listening" mode, although no concessions were offered to would-be rebels.