REBEL Tory MPs have been told that attempts to derail Theresa May's Brexit plan could risk handing power to Labour as tensions in the Conservative party grow.

Pro-European Conservative MPs have been warned by Damian Green - the Prime Minister's de facto deputy - that they must unite behind Mrs May's European Union (Withdrawal) Bill or risk handing power to Jeremy Corbyn.

1 Rebel Tory MPs have been told that attempts to derail Theresa May's Brexit plan could risk handing power to Labour as tensions in the Conservative party grow Credit: Rex Features

Mr Green, the First Secretary of State, has appealed to his fellow Tory MPs to get behind the EU withdrawal bill ahead of its second reading in the House of Commons, the Sunday Telegraph has reported.

He said: "No Conservative wants a bad Brexit deal, or to do anything that increases the threat of a Corbyn government."

However pro-Remain MP Anna Soubry told The Observer that it was unacceptable for whips to threaten MPs in order to stop them from backing amendments to the Brexit bill.

She said: "Any suggestion that this is any way treacherous or supporting Jeremy Corbyn is outrageous."

It has also been reported that at least half a dozen Conservative MPs are considering joining Labour, the SNP and the Liberal Demorcrats.

Mrs May has recently returned from a trip to Japan where she admitted she has never sung karaoke.

Soft Brexit 'vote loser' LABOUR’S “soft Brexit” policy has been blasted by voters in one of its Midlands target seats. The party, which lost Mansfield for the first time since the 1920s in June, says it wants to stay in the customs union until a new deal is done. Leaver Patricia Powers, 58, who went Tory at the election, said: “We can’t be half in or half out.” And Remainer Andrew Ashley, 26, admits Jeremy Corbyn, left, has his work cut out to win voters back. He said: “Some here would be happy to walk away without a deal.”

Despite declaring her love of Japanese culture during her visit to the Far East, the PM was forced to confess she had never partaken in the much loved national pastime.

Asked whether she would join Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe for a singsong during her trade trip, Mrs May - who lists Abba as amongst her favourite groups - said: “it might be a shock to you all, but I’m not a great karaoke fan.”