Second Brexit referendum plan can be agreed by MPs in coming days, Anna Soubry says

Talks begin on 'composite motion' - combining soft Brexit proposals with a commitment to a Final Say public vote

MPs have begun a fresh push to agree an alternative Brexit plan that would be put to a referendum in the autumn, despite throwing out all options last night.

Talks will begin to settle on a “composite motion”, combining soft Brexit proposals with a commitment to putting them to the people to confirm – with the alternative of staying in the EU.

Anna Soubry, who defected to The Independent Group from the Conservatives, insisted a compromise was still achievable and that supporters of a Final Say referendum were making “huge progress”.

“I believe we can now reach, in parliament, a majority based on progress we made last night for such a compromise, composite motion. That’s what we’ll be working on this morning,” she said.

Ms Soubry pointed out that the number of Tories backing a referendum was rising – from 7 to 15 on Monday night – and that, with 280 votes, a confirmatory ballot was the most popular option.

“We made more progress in a days’ worth of debate than in two years of this government,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

And she urged Theresa May to take the escape route from the Brexit crisis being offered, even by putting her own much-defeated deal back to the public.

“If she wanted to, she could bring it back with a confirmatory vote. She would win a majority and this entire Brexit nightmare would be over by the autumn,” Ms Soubry added.

On Monday night, MPs rejected all four possible Brexit alternatives, which were:

* A “permanent and comprehensive” customs union – defeated by 276-273 votes

* “Common market 2.0”, to keep the UK in the single market and a “customs arrangement – defeated by 282-261.

* A confirmatory public vote on any Brexit deal – defeated by 292-280.

* Revoking of Article 50 if a crash-out Brexit looms and a no-deal has been rejected – defeated by 292-191.

But Ms Soubry said the first two options failed only because their supporters would not agree to them being put to a public vote, which was the obvious area for a successful compromise.

Perhaps crucially, Nick Boles, the instigator of “Common market 2.0”, dramatically quit the Tory whip moments after its defeat, with a furious blast at his party’s refusal to compromise.

Mr Boles also voted for the referendum option, along with one minister – Margot James – and three other former ministers, Steve Brine, Mark Garnier and Ed Vaizey.

MPs will take control of the Commons agenda again on Wednesday, perhaps to pass the compromise motion, or even to try to force the prime minister to seek a long Article 50 extension.

Ms May is holding a marathon Cabinet session to try and break the Brexit deadlock, as EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said a no-deal withdrawal was becoming more likely by the day.