Theresa May is urgently moving to head off a major rebellion over her Brexit plans as pro-EU Tory MPs prepare to join Labour's attempt to derail a key part of her withdrawal bill.

Damian Green, the Prime Minister's de facto deputy, warns in The Telegraph that Conservative Europhiles must unite behind the Government's plans or risk handing power to Jeremy Corbyn.

Separately Mrs May said that blocking the bill could precipitate Britain falling off a "cliff-edge" and that Parliament must "play its part".

The stark warnings signal the extent of Mrs May's concern about a growing campaign by pro-EU Tory MPs to seek major changes to the withdrawal legislation that will be debated in the Commons this week.