Theresa May is intensifying her efforts to win bosses' backing for her Brexit deal by urging the heads of Britain's biggest companies to "sell" the agreement to their workforces and supply chains.

Sky News has obtained a presentation sent by Downing Street officials to all FTSE-100 companies earlier this week which sets out in an "accessible" form the details of the 585-page withdrawal agreement struck between London and Brussels.

In an accompanying note, Francesca Torres said the summary could be "provided…to your employees and/or supply chains/clients - we have found that people are welcoming the opportunity to understand in an accessible format what is being proposed".

The 37-page presentation outlines key areas of the withdrawal agreement, including the mutual treatment of citizens' rights, the UK's financial settlement with the EU and the need to provide for specific arrangements in relation to the Irish border and Gibraltar.

It also contains an extensive section covering the future relationship between the UK and the EU, focusing on areas such as the security partnership, economic ties and the process for turning the joint political declaration into legally binding agreements.


Image: The presentation document runs to 37 pages

One recipient of the presentation said it was unlikely to be forwarded to his workforce because it "bears the direct imprint of the government", but added that it was a welcome move for ministers to be seeking to improve engagement with the business community.

Details of Downing Street's renewed efforts have emerged just three days after the prime minister addressed the CBI's annual conference, arguing that her deal offered business the certainty it craved while ensuring that Britain would regain control of its borders.

May makes the case for her deal with EU

The chief executives of companies such as Severn Trent and Rolls-Royce Holdings are among those who have offered cautious backing to Mrs May's agreement, although others have stepped up calls for a second referendum under the banner of a "People's Vote".

The emergence of the presentation circulated to business leaders comes as a draft text of the political declaration between the UK and EU, which is due to be approved at a summit this weekend, illustrates the mutual ambition for broad future economic and security co-operation.