Theresa May is ready to rule out a No Deal Brexit after an extraordinary mass revolt by ministers, the Daily Mail can reveal.

A group of 23 dissidents met secretly at the Commons last night to discuss how to stop Britain leaving the EU without an agreement on March 29, with as many as 15 said to be ready to resign.

In an article for the Mail today, three of the ministers involved say they are prepared to back a Commons move by rebel MPs tomorrow to force the Prime Minister to seek a Brexit delay if her deal is voted down.

Industry minister Richard Harrington, digital minister Margot James and energy minister Claire Perry ‘implore’ Mrs May to say that if there is no deal agreed by Parliament by March 13 then she must seek a way to extend Article 50.

If she fails to do so they warn bluntly they ‘will have no choice other than to join MPs of all parties and fellow ministers in acting in the national interest to prevent a disaster in less than five weeks that we may regret forever’.

A group of 23 dissidents met secretly at the Commons last night to discuss how to stop Britain leaving the EU without an agreement on March 29

Industry minister Richard Harrington (left), digital minister Margot James (right) and energy minister Claire Perry ‘implore’ Mrs May to say that if there is no deal agreed by Parliament by March 13 then she must seek a way to extend Article 50

And in a dramatic development last night, it appeared the Prime Minister was preparing to bow to their demands and rule out a No Deal Brexit.

It came as Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was accused of ‘cynical betrayal’ after performing a U-turn and backing a second referendum – breaking a manifesto vow by his party.

Allies of the Prime Minister revealed that the Cabinet will discuss proposals this morning that could see the UK request a short extension of Article 50 of around two months if the PM’s deal is voted down by MPs again, for a second time, on March 12.

If ministers back the plan Mrs May could float the idea in a statement to Parliament as early as this afternoon.

The idea is a desperate bid to stave off the mass rebellion by ministers and avert a looming Commons defeat tomorrow over the motion put forward by Labour’s Yvette Cooper and Tory Sir Oliver Letwin that would empower Parliament to force a Brexit delay on the Government.

Up to 25 Tory backbenchers are also threatening to back tomorrow’s revolt (left: Mrs May at the Arab-European Summit. Right: European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker)

Other Tories believed to be on the brink of resigning to stop No Deal include Scottish Secretary David Mundell, left. As many as 15 ministers could resign, including anti-Brexit Cabinet minister David Gauke, right

As many as 15 ministers could resign and vote for the motion unless Mrs May provides assurances on No Deal today, including anti-Brexit Cabinet ministers Amber Rudd, David Gauke and Greg Clark.

Other Tories believed to be on the brink of resigning to stop No Deal include Scottish Secretary David Mundell, Defence minister Tobias Ellwood, Solicitor General Robert Buckland and Disabilities minister Sarah Newton. All are thought to have attended yesterday’s Commons meeting.

Up to 25 Tory backbenchers are also threatening to back tomorrow’s revolt. It means around 40 Tory rebels could vote against the Government which, with Opposition support, is more than enough to defeat Mrs May.

Other Tories believed to be on the brink of resigning to stop No Deal include Defence minister Tobias Ellwood, left. Energy minister Claire Perry, right, ‘implores’ Mrs May to say that if there is no deal agreed by Parliament by March 13 then she must seek a way to extend Article 50

As many as 15 ministers could resign and vote for the motion unless Mrs May provides assurances on No Deal, including anti-Brexit Cabinet ministers Amber Rudd, left, and Greg Clark, right

The developments came on an extraordinary day when Mr Corbyn stunned Westminster by indicating he was ready to back a second referendum. In a string of other Brexit developments:

Rebel amendment ‘an assault on Government’ By Jack Doyle, Associate Editor for the Daily Mail Attemps by rebel MPs to delay Brexit pose a ‘clear and present danger’ to the Government, leaked Whitehall papers suggest. A cross-party group led by Labour’s Yvette Cooper and Tory Oliver Letwin will today table proposals designed to force an extension to Britain’s EU membership beyond March 29. Supporters argue it will stop a disastrous No Deal Brexit. But a Government analysis of the plans written by Cabinet Office officials says they would strip huge power from ministers. ‘The Government would lose its ability to govern,’ it concludes. Last night a Whitehall source said the Cooper-Letwin amendment was ‘constitutionally dangerous’ and could become a ‘Trojan Horse’ for a much wider assault on Brexit and the Government. If the amendment passes it would take power from the Government over what is discussed in Parliament and hand it to backbenchers. ‘Without this (power)’, the analysis warns, ‘the Government has no control over the House of Commons and the parliamentary business and legislation necessary to progress government policies.’ ‘It is difficult to judge the long-term consequences of this approach for the relationship between Executive and Parliament...but clearly, if it were to become common practice it would fundamentally alter the balance of power between Parliament and the Executive,’ it says. In theory, the amendment could allow MPs to command civil service resources and attempt to pass Bills on other subjects not related to Brexit. Last night a senior Tory MP said: ‘This is not just about stopping No Deal. People are being hoodwinked. But in reality it could upend the way democracy works in this country. Their ambitions go far beyond stopping Brexit.’ Allies of the Prime Minister are urging her to try to buy off the rebels with the promise of a vote on delaying Brexit if she cannot get her deal through on March 12. Advertisement

The Labour leader was accused of a ‘cowardly’ betrayal of Labour’s promises to honour the referendum result, with one Labour MP telling him: ‘In the Midlands and north of England this decision today will stop you from being Prime Minister.’

The Mail saw leaked Whitehall papers suggesting that attempts by rebel MPs to delay Brexit posed a ‘clear and present danger’ to the government.

Business leaders declared a no-deal Brexit could trigger a ‘full-blown economic crisis’ and food shortages.

A leading medical journal warned a deal is desperately needed to avoid disastrous consequences for the NHS.

Consumer experts said families face chaos and long delays at European airports - particularly in Spain - if the country leaves the EU without an agreement.

Former Brexit secretary David Davis boasted that he has the credentials to be leader of the Conservative Party.

Ex-deputy prime minister Lord Heseltine called for a second referendum because the ‘almighty’ had intervened and many of those who voted Brexit in 2016 have died.

At the weekend, Miss Rudd, Mr Clark and Mr Gauke made clear in the Mail that they opposed a No Deal departure and Brexit must be delayed unless there was a breakthrough on Mrs May’s deal this week.

Tomorrow’s vote would empower Parliament to force a Brexit delay on the Government if Mrs May has failed to get a deal passed by March 13.

The Prime Minister remains unconvinced that a delay to Brexit will help the process, warning yesterday that an extension of Article 50 ‘doesn’t deliver a decision in Parliament and it doesn’t deliver a deal.’

Speaking at an EU summit in Egypt where she held emergency Brexit talks with fellow leaders, Mrs May said progress was being made and a deal to take the UK out on March 29 remained ‘within our grasp’.

But she refused to explicitly rule out a Brexit delay. One ally of the PM said: ‘It’s either accept the possibility of a delay or face a potentially heavy defeat in parliament and have it forced on you anyway.

‘It isn’t taking No Deal off the table – you still have to get a deal to do that.’

Another senior Tory said: ‘If 20 ministers have to resign to force this through then they will, but it would have a catastrophic impact on the Government.’

One leading Remainer last night said: ‘I don’t want to resign but if I don’t get the assurances I need from the PM then I will. The Government is not ready to leave without a deal next month – it would be irresponsible.

‘There are enough of us who feel that way to get the Cooper amendment through and everyone knows that.’