Theresa May is facing a battle to keep her Brexit secretary David Davis on side after pushing a plan to keep some of the main elements of Britain’s relationship with the EU following Brexit.

The decision to circulate details of the “backstop” plan this morning puts the prime minister in direct conflict with Mr Davis, Boris Johnson and other Brexiteers, in one of the most dramatic showdowns of the past two years.

Number 10 is understood to be scrambling to get Mr Davis back on side ahead of likely publication tomorrow morning.

A source close to Mr Davis said he would not resign over this, suggesting the impasse can only be solved with the Brexit secretary backing down. Meanwhile hardline eurosceptics are attempting to