Theresa May tells MPs to 'hold our nerve' ahead of new chance to take control of Brexit

Theresa May has told MPs to "hold our nerve" to force the EU to renegotiate a critical element of the Brexit deal as the clock ticks down to exit day.

The prime minister urged her Conservative colleagues to give her more time to get an updated deal at this "crucial stage" in talks, instead of taking control themselves.

She talked up hope of a breakthrough with Brussels, insisting: "I believe we can reach a deal that this House can support."

The EU has ruled out any changes to the divorce deal agreed in November that is yet to be ratified by parliament, but has hinted it could change the non-binding political declaration on the UK's future relationship with the bloc.

Mrs May's intervention is likely to be a warning to Tory MPs not to put forward their own Brexit plans later this week.

On Thursday, MPs will get the chance to propose amendments in parliament that, if voted through, could force the prime minister to pursue a different path.

The government survived a similar series of votes last month, backing a bid that approved the Brexit deal in principal if the controversial Irish backstop was replaced with "alternative arrangements".

Sky News