Theresa May does not normally engage in Westminster gossip so it was with some surprise that ministers watched her conclude cabinet on Tuesday by denouncing “conspiracy theories” about her plans to get parliament to approve her Brexit deal with Brussels.

The prime minister took the extraordinary step of categorically denying that she was planning to offer Jeremy Corbyn a deal: Labour support in the “meaningful vote” in the Commons in exchange for a general election, which the Labour leader craves.

The claims, which had been circulating among Brexit-backing MPs, were dismissed by the prime minister as “outrageous and untrue”.

One minister present — who had not even heard the rumours — “felt a chill up the spine” at the prospect of May leading them into another election.…