MPs once again failed to agree on a way forward for Brexit on Monday as Theresa May prepared to use the threat of a long delay or a general election to persuade her party to back her deal.

Parliament voted on four alternatives to Mrs May’s deal, including a customs union and a second referendum, without reaching a majority for any of the options on offer.

The Tories will now push Mrs May to pivot to a no deal Brexit, but the Prime Minister will hold a marathon five-hour session with her Cabinet on Tuesday in attempt to create unity around her EU Withdrawal Agreement.

She will use Monday’s results to impress on ministers and backbench MPs her belief that her deal is the only way to avoid a worse outcome, such as a long delay, a general election or a customs union.

MPs came within four votes of approving a customs union on Monday night, as the idea lost by 276 votes to 273.

The fact that MPs were again unable to agree an alternative to Mrs May’s deal bought her some temporary breathing space, but a third round of indicative votes will be held tomorrow, meaning Mrs May must act fast to maintain her slender grip on the Brexit process.

It means Mrs May is likely to put her deal to a vote for a fourth time this week, but her chances of winning suffered a fresh blow when Nick Boles, the former skills minister who has campaigned for a new version of the common market, quit the Tory party with a dramatic Commons statement.