Theresa May will today be urged to “play hardball” with the EU by giving MPs a vote on her deal with the proviso that they would get to decide later on whether to enter the Irish backstop.

Cabinet ministers will appeal to the prime minister not to give opponents the chance to reject the divorce deal entirely when the Commons finally votes next week.

Instead Mrs May should offer MPs the chance to support the deal subject to the condition that parliament would have to approve the UK entering the backstop, a commitment to mirror EU rules and customs and so ensure no hard border in Ireland in the event of a failure to secure a trade deal.

MPs would also be able to make