Nigel Evans, the Eurosceptic Conservative MP, said Theresa May would have to quit if her Brexit deal was defeated for a third time.

He also said the PM should pledge to resign in order to get her deal over the line.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said: "She basically gets her deal over the line first and then announces that she is resigning so that there can be an orderly replacement of the prime minister.

“There would be clearly competition between members of Parliament and then two names would go to the membership.

“There doesn’t need to be an interim caretaker leader at all.

“The Prime Minister is the prime minister. Once she has got her deal over the line I just think it is important for her legacy, this moment.”

Asked what should happen if the Prime Minister's deal was defeated again, he said: "I am afraid then she would have to go.

"What we are talking about then is the fact that April 12 is the new deadline day which is a bit of a problem and then of course there is May 22 and then there is the prospect of fighting the EU elections which is unthinkable as the Prime Minister herself said and therefore I think that is a real problem for the Prime Minister.”