Theresa May will challenge Jeremy Corbyn to a TV debate on her Brexit deal as the showpiece of an election-style campaign to seek the country’s backing.

The Prime Minister intends to hold the crucial Parliamentary vote on the deal on December 12, and will on Monday update Cabinet on plans for a two-week media blitz timed to exert maximum pressure on MPs to fall into line.

On Sunday she reached another significant milestone by agreeing the deal with EU leaders, but the far bigger challenge will be to get Parliament’s support for the agreement. More than 90 Conservative MPs, as well as the DUP and Labour, have said they will vote against the deal.

Mrs May’s primary tactic will be to heighten the fears of MPs in Leave-voting constituencies that they will lose their seats if they thwart Brexit by voting against the deal. She will also go over their heads by appealing directly to voters, saying on Sunday: “In Parliament and beyond it, I will make the case for this deal with all my heart, and I look forward to that campaign.”

Jeremy Hunt, the Foreign Secretary, issued a stark warning to rebel Tory MPs on Sunday that if they reject the deal the Government could collapse.