BREXITEERS have torn into Theresa May accusing her of "handing the keys" to Brexit to 'Marxist' Jeremy Corbyn - forcing another EU deal delay.

The crumbling PM promised to beg Brussels for a fresh extension to Brexit but vowed Britain will still leave before the EU elections in May.

13 Theresa May speaking in Downing Street tonight Credit: Getty Images - Getty

13 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn with the future partnership - which he will try and get the PM to accept a softer Brexit

She announced talks with the lefty Labour boss to try and find a solution to the Brexit deadlock - paving the way for a much softer version of our EU exit and ruling out No Deal for good.

Mrs May added if the two leaders fail to find a compromise, she will put a number of options to Parliament and agree to carry out whatever MPs agree.

Mr Corbyn agreed to the sit-down talks but Brexiteers responded with absolute fury and disbelief, risking an irreparable rift in the bitterly divided party.

There are fears Mrs May's surprise "unity" move could see her cave in to Labour's demands for a customs union and guarantees on workers' rights - even after Britain has left the EU.

Mrs May now faces the possibility of top level Cabinet resignations after 14 ministers - a clear majority - implored her to keep No Deal on the table rather than seeking a further extension.

A Cabinet source told The Sun this evening that four ministers opposed another extension to Brexit openly - Gavin Williamson, Penny Mordaunt, Liz Truss and Chris Grayling.

Jacob Rees-Mogg blasted: "What was announced today was an attempt to overturn Brexit in an attempt to do a deal with the socialists.

"I think getting the support of a known Marxist is not likely to instil confidence in the Conservatives."

One ERG MP told Sky News: "This is serious stuff. She has f**ked our party. She is f**king Brexit. She is f**king the country."

And Boris Johnson announced he would no longer support the PM amid fears she was handing the keys to Brexit to Corbyn.

Ex-Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith also stormed: “I am deeply worried.

This division cannot drag on much longer Prime Minister Theresa May

“The agreement is over and what we are looking at now is a completely different set of arrangements, dictated by Jeremy Corbyn, the worst political leader in the history of the Labour Party.

“We have given Jeremy Corbyn legitimacy.”

In an extraordinarily personal attack on the PM on Tuesday night the Brexiteer Tory MP Henry Smith blasted on twitter: "Theresa May represents a monumental failure of British leadership, a betrayal of the majority who voted to leave the EU and Conservative Party membership.

"I called for her to go last year, incredibly she has descended further still. I cannot countenance her Corbyn/Brexit process."

The Democratic Unionist Party also made its feelings known.

In a statement the DUP said: "The Prime Minister’s lamentable handling of the negotiations with the EU means she has failed to deliver a sensible Brexit deal that works for all parts of the UK."

13 Mrs May has been accused of handing control of Brexit to rival Jeremy Corbyn

13 Brexiteers rounded of the under-pressure PM on Tuesday night

Mrs May announced her last-ditch gambit in a Downing Street statement this evening after the marathon seven-hour Cabinet meeting.

She said: "We will need a further extension to Article 50, one that is as short as possible and ends when we pass a deal.

"And we need to be clear what such an extension is for – to ensure we leave in a timely and orderly way.

"This debate, this division, cannot drag on much longer.

"It is putting Members of Parliament and everyone else under immense pressure – and it is doing damage to our politics."

Mrs May said she was inviting rival Mr Corbyn for talks at No10 where they would seek to find a united approach - keeping the current withdrawal agreement but amending the declaration on the future UK-EU trade deal.

We have given Jeremy Corbyn legitimacy Ex-Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith

The PM added: "The ideal outcome of this process would be to agree an approach on a future relationship that delivers on the result of the referendum, that both the Leader of the Opposition and I could put to the House for approval, and which I could then take to next week’s European Council.

"However, if we cannot agree on a single unified approach, then we would instead agree a number of options for the future relationship that we could put to the House in a series of votes to determine which course to pursue.

"Crucially the Government stands ready to abide by the decision of the House. But to make this process work, the Opposition would need to agree to this too."

Mrs May concluded: "This is a difficult time for everyone. Passions are running high on all sides of the argument.

"But we can and must find the compromises that will deliver what the British people voted for.

"This is a decisive moment in the story of these islands. And it requires national unity to deliver the national interest."

Boris Johnson says that handing Jeremy Corbyn the keys to Brexit leads to EU exit being disintegrated

And Brexiteer Michael Gove came out to bat for the PM this evening, saying her plan would allow Britain to leave the EU as soon as possible.

He told Sky: "The country voted to ensure we left, we need to make sure we honour that referendum mandate."

And a spokesperson for the Prime Minister said tonight: "Jeremy Corbyn was elected on a manifesto to deliver Brexit.

"We think there is an opportunity to agree something here and put forward a plan that both sides agree to as a way of getting Brexit over the line.

"I think anybody would agree that is a significant prize and one that's worth working towards."

But Mr Corbyn has committed to keeping Britain in the EU customs union - so any compromise with Labour is likely to mean Brexit being watered down.

The left-wing leader said tonight: "We will meet the Prime Minister.

"We recognise that she has made a move, I recognise my responsibility to represent the people that supported Labour in the last election and the people who didn't support Labour but nevertheless want certainty and security for their own future."

Pro-Leave Cabinet ministers may now be considering quitting in protest at the PM's new strategy.

Ex-Foreign Secretary Mr Johnson led a chorus of criticism, saying: "It is very disappointing that the cabinet has decided to entrust the final handling of Brexit to Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour party.

It is very disappointing that the cabinet has decided to entrust the final handling of Brexit to Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour party Boris Johnson

"It now seems all too likely that British trade policy and key law making powers will be handed over to Brussels - with no say for the UK.

"I can under no circumstances vote for a deal involving a customs union as I believe that does not deliver on the referendum."

Brexiteer MP Charlie Elphicke blasted: "Imposing the EU customs union with Labour votes would be appalling. It would break a clear Conservative manifesto pledge. Our trade policy would be made in Brussels - not Britain. I will oppose this."

Conor Burns, a close ally of Boris, added: "We have a Government in name only. The reality is the Remain campaign began in June 2016 and is on the cusp of victory."

A former Cabinet minister branded the statement "desperate", telling The Sun: "The only real question is how anyone in the Cabinet agreed to it."

There were signs that panicked Brexiteers realised they could be letting our EU exit slip out of their grasp.

Daniel Kawczynski MP told Sky this evening: "We are losing Brexit, we are actually losing it, and we are going to lose it unless we get behind the withdrawal agreement."

But Nick Boles, who dramatically resigned the Tory whip on Monday night and accused the PM of "mismanaging" Brexit, welcomed her change in tone.

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He said: "The PM’s statement is very welcome. This is the right approach. Better late than never."

And EU bosses also suggested they are pleased with Mrs May's U-turn - Donald Tusk tweeted: "Even if, after today, we don’t know what the end result will be, let us be patient."

Ministers spent the whole morning locked in talks at No10 - then resumed after lunch and continued discussions until 5pm.

They are torn over the next steps for Brexit and what should happen if Mrs May's deal never makes it through Parliament.

Cabinet ministers were served Chilean red wine while they waited for the PM to make her statement following the marathon Cabinet meeting. Ministers were ordered to stay in No10 to avoid reporters shouting at them as they left.

The Cabinet was expected to see internal polling about how the party might do in another snap election.

But tonight a No10 source said that ministers decided against holding a General Election.

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And Philip Hammond was said to be warning that Britain might be forced into a second referendum on Brexit as the only way to avoid a months-long delay.

The Sun revealed that the PM would face an onslaught from Brexiteers who are demanding she go back to the negotiating table and try again to change the hated Northern Irish backstop.

One Brexiteer Cabinet minister told The Sun: “We have to go back to Brussels and ask the EU to improve the backstop next week.“All we can do now is take this to the wire. Every other course will be a disaster.

“The EU desperately want a deal. We just haven’t pushed them hard enough on this yet."

Brexit hopes and cheer in the City The Pound rose and the FTSE-100 hit a six-month high as Mrs May’s speech calmed City nerves. But the Institute of Directors’ Edwin Morgan warned ther were still “many obstacles ahead”. He added: “Business leaders want an end to this miserable uncertainty. "We urge the Leader of the Opposition to work with the PM.” Food and Drink Federation chief Ian Wright also urged Jeremy Corbyn’s “speedy support” for her. He added: “Livelihoods are at stake and jobs on the line.” The FTSE-100 rose one per cent to 7391 while Sterling hit $1.31.

13 The PM made a statement after a marathon Cabinet session Credit: Getty Images - Getty

13 Ministers leaving after the seven-hour meeting Credit: AFP

13 Matt Hancock and Liam Fox walking out of 10 Downing Street Credit: AFP

13 Top Tory Brandon Lewis discussed with the team the option of an election Credit: PA:Press Association

13 Sajid Javid arriving for today's meeting Credit: PA:Press Association

13 Greg Clark and other Remainers would be happy with a customs union Credit: Reuters

13 Penny Mordaunt could resign if the PM goes for a soft Brexit Credit: Reuters

EU Chief Brexit Negotiator Michel Barnier gives his verdict after MPs rejected second round of indicative votes

Jeremy Corbyn confirms he will meet Theresa May for Brexit talks to end the deadlock

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