Theresa May has admitted to Conservative MPs that Brexit negotiations are at an impasse because neither of her current options for a customs deal with the EU will work.

The Prime Minister invited all 214 of her backbenchers to Downing Street to explain why she has had to go back to the drawing board in an attempt to find a replacement for the customs union.

But her attempt at getting her critics on board appeared to backfire as the “technical briefings” increased fears among Eurosceptics that further delays will mean an extension of the 21-month transition period.

Writing for the Telegraph, Jacob Rees-Mogg, leader of a 60-strong group of Tory Brexiteers, tells Mrs May she must show more “firmness and tenacity” and see the Brexit process “for what it has really become”.

Mr Rees-Mogg accuses the EU of treating Britain with “disdain” and using the Irish border question - which lies at the heart of the customs conundrum - as an excuse to thwart the Brexit process.