Jacob Rees-Mogg said a bad deal was better than remaining in the EU

MPs seeking a hard Brexit have welcomed the Speaker’s decision to block another identical vote on Theresa May’s deal and said that they would rather face a long delay in leaving the European Union than endorse it.

Members of the European Research Group (ERG) stiffened their resolve to oppose the prime minister’s deal despite her warning that she would seek the “longest extension possible” to Article 50 when she meets EU leaders this week.

Senior figures in the ERG believe they stand more chance of dictating the direction of Brexit if the exit day is pushed back by nine months or more.

Britain is due to leave on March 29. Fewer than half of Tory MPs voted to extend Article 50 last week so the