Theresa May was dealt a major blow ahead of a crucial trip to Brussels when three Conservative MPs dramatically quit the party over Brexit.

Pro-European Tories Anna Soubry, Sarah Wollaston and Heidi Allen resigned minutes before prime minister’s questions on Wednesday, citing Ms May’s “disastrous” handling of Brexit as their motivation for joining the new Independent Group.

In an emotional press conference, Ms Allen said the prime minister had been bullied into submission’’ by the European Research Group (ERG) and was “dragging the country and parliament kicking and screaming to the edge of a no deal abyss.’’

She also claimed ministers “at all levels” of government were sympathetic to their project, which saw the 11-strong group reach equal footing in the Commons with the Liberal Democrats and overtake the DUP, who prop up Ms May’s administration.

Meanwhile, Ms May said she held “constructive” talks with European Commission boss Jean-Claude Juncker as she scrambles to secure changes to her Brexit deal. She said that “we have made progress” and that talks would continue “at pace”.

And Labour was plunged into fresh controversy when it suspended ex-Militant member Derek Hatton over an allegedly antisemitic tweet – just two days after he was allowed to rejoin the party.