THE group of 10 DUP MPs propping up Theresa May's minority government are now considering backing a long extension to the Brexit process.

Rather than back the Prime Minister's deal, according to Sky News, the Northern Ireland politicians will instead back extending Article 50 beyond the summer.

It is believed they are hoping to force a change in leadership and that May will be replaced by someone who can get a different deal through Parliament.

Talks broke down between the DUP and May's de facto deputy David Lidington over the offer of a so-called Stormont lock, which would ensure that new EU laws applied in Northern Ireland would be accepted by the rest of the UK under the backstop arrangements.

That arrangement would likely not receive backing from some Tory Brexiteers.

Last night, the Prime Minister suffered another embarrassing defeat over her deal when MPs voted to take back control of the Brexit process.

READ MORE: Major defeat for May as MPs vote to take back control of Brexit

Last week the EU allowed Britain to delay Brexit until May 22, but only on the condition that MPs voted for the Tory leader’s deal.

If that doesn’t happen – and it’s still not entirely clear if the Prime Minister will put her agreement to a vote again – then the UK only has until April 12 to come up with an alternative solution.