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A Tory minister has become the first member of the government to back revoking Article 50 - which would cancel Brexit.

Mark Field broke cover last night after more than a third of voters in his Cities of London and Westminster seat signed a petition to scrap leaving the EU.

Article 50 is the two-year legal countdown to Brexit that was meant to end this Friday, and is now set to end on April 12.

Britain needs EU leaders' permission to extend it, but not to revoke it entirely - a move now demanded by 5.4million people so far.

The Foreign Office minister indicated he will back revoking Article 50 if a free vote is held this week on the way forward for Brexit.

(Image: Dan Kitwood)

MPs are set to vote tonight on a plan that could force so-called 'indicative votes' this Wednesday.

And it is reported Theresa May will bring forward her own options, including the option of revoking Article 50.

The Prime Minister was summoning Cabinet ministers this morning for a rare Monday meeting in No10 - a day after inviting Brexiteers to Chequers where she rebuffed their calls to quit.

Mr Field has a majority of just 3,148 over Labour - and more than 22,000 of his constituents have signed the petition.

He told the BBC's Westminster Hour: "My personal view is that I would be happy to revoke Article 50.

"I appreciate that is probably a minority view, but if we get to this utter paralysis and I sincerely hope that in the next 48, 72 hours we do not, then if that becomes an option, it's an option I personally would take.

"I accept it probably would not be a majority view in the House of Commons.”

The MP came out for the dramatic position after organisers claimed one million people marched through London for a People's Vote on Saturday.

Mr Field suggested EU leaders may prefer the UK to revoke for two years and think again, rather than have a delay of just a few months.

On questions over Theresa May’s leadership he suggested she would “hang on in there”.

“The first of the two female prime ministers was hounded out of office by her Conservative colleagues. If we're now suggesting that's going to happen to the second I don't think that's a great look for my party."