Theresa May spent eight hours discussing the deal with ministers at Chequers yesterday Reuters

Britain will continue to sign up to EU rules on a “voluntary basis” after Brexit to avoid a collapse in trade, cabinet ministers have agreed.

An eight-hour meeting at Chequers, the prime minister’s rural retreat, broke up last night with both Remainers and Brexiteers declaring themselves to be happy with the compromise. However, the deal still has to be sold to European leaders who are deeply sceptical at what they see as the British “cherry picking” approach.

Mrs May chaired the meeting of her 11-strong Brexit war cabinet yesterday, hoping to thrash out a deal ahead a full cabinet meeting on Tuesday and a speech planned for Friday on the post-Brexit end state.

Some MPs have threatened to rebel over remaining in the customs union,…