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A Tory minister today fired the starting gun on a coup against Theresa May as he resigned from the government.

Shailesh Vara quit as a Northern Ireland minister slamming the PM's Brexit deal that keep the UK in the "shackles of the EU."

He is the first minister to quit since the Cabinet reluctantly agreed the deal last night in a five-hour summit - where 11 members objected and one, Esther McVey, was reportedly left in tears.

Theresa May will address warring MPs from 10.30pm today after warning last night they must choose her Brexit - or no Brexit at all. She admitted there was an "impassioned debate" and "difficult days ahead".

Now Tory MPs have claimed she will face a leadership challenge as soon as today - even as the EU scheduled a summit for 27 fellow leaders to agree her deal on November 25.

And her own former chief of staff branded the deal a "horror show".

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Mr Vara is a minister but does not sit in the Cabinet, meaning he was not part of last night's decision.

"It is a sad day when we are reduced to obeying rules made by other countries who have shown they do not have our best interests at heart," Mr Vara said. "The people of the UK deserve better."

Reports today suggest Cabinet ministers could also quit - including Esther McVey , who was "shouted down" when she tried to register her objection to the deal with a formal vote.

Asked if more ministers would resign, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said "I hope not".

(Image: Wiktor Szymanowicz / Barcroft Images) (Image: Getty Images)

Theresa May's critics have also warned she could reach the 48 no confidence letters needed to trigger a Tory leadership contest as soon as today.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, who chairs the Brexiteer European Research Group, told ITV’s Peston last night: “The case that I have made is that I disagree with the policy but not the individual.

"[But] there comes a point at which the policy and the individual are so inextricably linked that that argument ceases to have any validity.

"I think we are coming very close to that point."

Key points from UK's 611-page Brexit deal with EU The Brexit deal agreed by Theresa May and the EU covers two areas: the Withdrawal Agreement, covering the UK's exit from the EU, and the Political Declaration on a Future Framework, which sets out the relationship with the EU after Britain leaves. Key details on the Brexit deal include: 1. The Withdrawal Agreement The transition period can be extended until 2022 - after the next election

Goods face being checked between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK

A 'backstop' could extend EU customs rules UK-wide - and we'd need Brussels' permission to quit

European courts will still have a big hold on the UK 2. The Future Framework "Comprehensive arrangements that will create a free trade area" - not exactly the "frictionless trade" hoped for

Possible EU access to British fishing waters

We would remain tied to European courts

We'd respect human rights laws

Visas needed for long term trips to the EU

It has built in vagueness - kicking the can down the road for further negotiations Read about the deal in more depth here.

(Image: Jonathan Hordle/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

As Tewkesbury MP Laurence Robertson became the latest to reveal he's voiced no confidence, MP Nadine Dorries claimed 48 Tories would have submitted their letters by lunchtime today.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if they were already in,” she said. “There’s going to be more than 48, I’m sure of that, just by the number of people I’ve spoken to tonight. I think we will have the vote of confidence.”

And Theresa May's former chief of staff Nick Timothy turned on her today with an extraordinary tirade branding her deal a "horror show".

He said it was "capitulation not only to Brussels, but to the fears of the British negotiators themselves, who … never believed Brexit can be a success."

Brexit deal countdown Early December: Theresa May tours UK and G20 with two-week "campaign" to sell her deal directly to the British public. 11 December: A vote in the House of Commons on the deal. 13 December: The last chance EU Council summit, where deal could come back for more negotiation. 20 December: Parliament rises for its Christmas break. Final or 're-run' vote by MPs must be held before now. If it fails there could be no deal, or a general election, or a second EU referendum. 26 January 2019: By this point Theresa May must return to Parliament and make a statement if she still has no agreement. MPs then vote on a motion based on the government statement 7 days later. 29 March 2019: Brexit Day. If there's a deal, this will be a total anticlimax because a transition will be in place. If there's No Deal, planes could be grounded, ports jammed up and customs checks thrown into chaos at 11pm. 31 December 2020: If there's a deal, this is when the transition period - which continues pretty much all the EU rules we have now - is supposed to end. But it could be extended by two more years. 1 January 2021: If there's still no deal, under current plans a "backstop" would kick in. This could keep the UK tied to EU customs rules, until a proper agreement is reached, in exchange for keeping the Northern Ireland border open. Read the full guide to the timetable here.

Shailesh Vara's resignation letter in full

I write to offer my resignation as a Minister in your Government. I do so with sadness but I cannot support the Withdrawal Agreement that has been agreed with the European Union.

The EU Referendum offered a simple choice — to either stay in or leave the EU. The result was decisive with the UK public voting to leave and that is what we, their elected representatives, must deliver.

The Agreement put forward however, does not do that as it leaves the UK in a half-way house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation.

Given the past performance of the EU, there is every possibility that the UK-EU trade deal that we seek will take years to conclude.

We will be locked in a Customs Arrangement indefinitely, bound by rules determined by the EU over which we have no say.

Will Theresa May win the Brexit deal vote? Theresa May has a Brexit deal, but the danger is looming that it will be defeated in the House of Commons. Even getting it past her Cabinet forced Esther McVey and Dominic Raab to resign. Now she faces one more hurdle - a vote in Parliament on December 11. MPs are grouped in several factions - their warring opinions are explained more fully here. But if 318 or more vote against the deal, they will defeat the deal. Against the deal TORY BREXITEERS: There are up to about 80, led by Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg, threatening to vote down a deal that keeps Britain trapped in "vassalage" with Brussels. Not all are expected to live up to their threats. TORY HARD REMAINERS: Only about a dozen, but many - including Justine Greening and Jo Johnson - will vote against, instead wanting a second referendum. DUP: Theresa May's Northern Irish allies - who she handed £1.5bn - are 10-strong. They say they will vote down the deal. LABOUR LOYALISTS: About 150 MPs are consistently loyal to Jeremy Corbyn on Brexit. They'll be told to vote against the deal because it doesn't meet Labour's 'six tests'. LABOUR REMAINERS: There are about 50 hard Remainer Labour MPs. They're likely to oppose the deal to avoid enabling a Brexit. OTHERS: The SNP (35), Lib Dems (12), Plaid Cymru (4) and Greens (1) are all likely to vote against. For the deal TORY LOYALISTS: Well over 200 are likely to vote with Theresa May, for the deal. Many have paid government jobs - so would have to quit if they oppose her. 'NERVOUS LABOUR': Some Labour MPs could BACK a deal - fearing otherwise Britain will be plunged into an even worse No Deal. There could be 20 or more. Caroline Flint is among them. Unknown LABOUR BREXITEERS: There are only about half a dozen. It was generally thought they'd side with Theresa May, but Kate Hoey MP broke ranks and said she could vote against.

Worse, we will not be free to leave the Customs Arrangement unilaterally if we wish to do so. Northern Ireland in the meantime will be subject to a different relationship with the EU from the rest of the UK and whilst I agree there should be no hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland, the economic and constitutional integrity of the United Kingdom must be respected.

With respect Prime Minister, this Agreement does not provide for the United Kingdom being a sovereign, independent country leaving the shackles of the EU, however it is worded.

We are a proud nation and it is a sad day when we are reduced to obeying rules made by other countries who have shown that they do not have our best interests at heart.

We can and must do better than this. The people of the UK deserve better.

That is why I cannot support this Agreement.

It has been an honour and privilege to serve as a Minister in the Northern Ireland Office and I leave with the fondest of memories.