Ford today warned that leaving the EU without a deal would be 'catastrophic' - amid claims the car giant is preparing to move production out of the UK.

The company has added its voice to those sounding the alarm about the prospects of Britain crashing out next month.

The chances of a no-deal outcome appear to be rising with talks in Westminster and Brussels still mired in deadlock.

Theresa May was reportedly told during a phone call with business leaders last night that Ford is stepping up preparations to shift operations out of the UK.

Ford has added its voice to firms sounding the alarm about the prospects of Britain crashing out with no Brexit deal next month

Ford today warned that leaving the EU without a deal would be 'catastrophic' - amid claims the car giant is preparing to move production out of the UK

The car industry has been delivering increasingly panicked warnings about the impact of a no-deal Brexit, with some firms already cutting back on jobs and production plans.

DYSON, AIRBUS AND NOW FORD THREATEN TO QUIT UK OVER NO DEAL - SO WHO NEXT? Ford is the latest in a line of large firms to hint it is planning to up sticks from the UK and head abroad while blaming Brexit. Last month, billionaire Sir James Dyson announced plans to relocate the Dyson head office from the UK to Singapore -despite being one of the most vocal business supporters of Brexit. The head of Airbus also tore into the Government's handling of Brexit, branding it a 'disgrace' and warning that the company could pull out of the UK if its ability to compete on the global stage is harmed by a no-deal departure. Likewise the car industry has been delivering increasingly panicked warnings about the impact of a no-deal Brexit - Nissan has announced it will no longer build its X-Trail car in Sunderland, and Jaguar Land Rover will cut 4,500 jobs in the UK. Ford could cut about 1,000 jobs, mainly at its Bridgend engine plant. The Dutch government has recently claimed it is in talks with 250 UK firms about luring them to the Netherlands. Advertisement

Nissan said last week it would no longer build its X-Trail car in Sunderland. And Jaguar Land Rover has announced plans to cut 4,500 jobs in the UK, and Ford could cut about 1,000 jobs, mainly at its Bridgend engine plant.

The news will come as a fresh blow to Mrs May as she prepares to face MPs at a crunch Commons vote tomorrow. The Prime Minister is facing yet another mauling at the hands of Tory rebels who have accused her of a 'sneaky' bid to rule out leaving the EU without a deal.

The PM responded that the government was putting together a package of aid for the car industry, according to The Times - but did not spell out what it would include.

A Ford spokesman stopped short of confirming the details today, but said: 'We have long urged the UK Government and Parliament to work together to avoid the country leaving the EU on a no-deal, hard-Brexit basis on March 29.

'Such a situation would be catastrophic for the UK auto industry and Ford's manufacturing operations in the country.

'We will take whatever action is necessary to preserve the competitiveness of our European business.'

But Unite national officer Des Quinn said the latest warning from Ford underlines the catastrophic consequences of a no-deal Brexit on the UK's world leading car industry.

He added: 'Ministers and MPs must stop gambling with the futures of UK workers and their families. They now must do what is best for the country by taking a no deal, hard Brexit off the table and securing the tariff-free, frictionless trade with Europe through a permanent customs union on which our manufacturing success depends.'

Eurosceptic MPs call on Theresa May to discipline Brexit negotiator following comments in bar Theresa May’s chief Brexit negotiator was hung out to dry by ministers yesterday after suggesting the UK’s exit from the EU would be delayed unless MPs vote for her deal next month. Olly Robbins angered Eurosceptic MPs after it emerged he had been overheard in a Brussels bar telling colleagues that Parliament would face a stark choice at the end of next month between backing Mrs May’s deal or a ‘long’ extension of Article 50. The comments were not disputed by No 10. Eurosceptic MPs called on Mrs May to rein in Mr Robbins, or even sack him. Former Brexit minister Steve Baker said his comments were ‘most unfortunate’, adding: ‘The Prime Minister is the ultimate negotiator for the UK’. Advertisement

Rebecca Long-Bailey, Shadow Business Secretary, said: 'Ford's decision to step up preparations to shift production overseas will risk thousands of highly skilled jobs in Bridgend, Dagenham, Halewood and Dunton.

'Businesses have lost confidence in the Government's ability to handle Brexit. It is high time the Prime Minister heeds the numerous warnings by car manufacturers and gives businesses the certainty they desperately need. She must rule out 'no deal'.'

Meanwhile, Trade Secretary Liam Fox has admitted that efforts to 'roll over' EU trade deals with third countries in time for Brexit will 'go down to the wire'.

Internal documents seen by the Sun suggest just six of the 40 deals Britain is seeking to roll over before its March 29 exit will be ready on time.

'A number of negotiations are at an advanced stage,' he told MPs.

'As with all international negotiations and indeed any negotiations, they will go down to the wire. I would expect nothing different from these agreements - that is the way that countries do business.'

Cross-Channel tensions continued to rise today amid Mrs May's bid to overhaul the Irish border backstop.

Belgium's Prime Minister has jibed that a no-deal Brexit would be better than one on bad terms - but insisted the current deal is a good one.

Theresa May (pictured at No10 today) was reportedly told during a phone call with business leaders last night that Ford is stepping up preparations to shift operations out of the UK

Dutch prime minister claims Britain is a 'diminished' country because of Brexit The Dutch prime minister claimed last night that Britain is a ‘diminished’ country because of Brexit. During a speech in Switzerland, Mark Rutte also warned that leaving the European Union without a deal would lead to ‘insurmountable’ consequences for the British economy. During a speech in Switzerland, Mark Rutte (pictured) warned of the consequences of Brexit Calling for more EU unity, Mr Rutte said: ‘We should stick together, now more than ever. Because if the chaos of Brexit teaches us anything, it’s that there’s no such thing as splendid isolation.’ However, former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith hit back, saying: ‘Europe is mired in mess and debt and the UK made a bold decision to join the rest of the world.’ Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg added: ‘EU leaders are now resorting to mere abuse as their beloved institution flounders. Happily we are taking back control and can afford to laugh at their foibles.’ Advertisement

Charles Michel said the UK crashing out in March would at least offer the EU clarity on the way forward with just 44 days to go.

But he warned hard Brexiteers in Parliament 'a good deal is on the table' and the attempts to frustrate the plan would boost the prospects of a 'bad deal'.

Mr Michel insisted the backstop for the Irish border opposed by many Tory MPs was a crucial reason why the current deal was a good one. He said it guarantees peace in Ireland while boosting the economy.

May faces Tory fury after EU envoy is overheard warning of Brexit delay Theresa May scrambled to defuse a bitter row with Brexiteers today after her EU envoy was overheard saying she will put off a vote on her deal until the last moment - and then threaten to delay the UK's departure unless they approve it. Olly Robbins loudly told companions in a hotel bar that the 'week beginning end of March' would be critical, just days before the UK is due to leave the bloc. He suggested MPs will be confronted with a 'long extension' to the Article 50 process if they do not give the plan the green light at that point. The private conversation, which happened within earshot of an ITV journalist on Monday night, sent Brexiteers into meltdown. Mrs May has repeatedly insisted that the UK will leave on schedule on March 29 - despite growing doubts among ministers over whether that is realistic even if her package was passed immediately. She was grilled about the issue at PMQs this afternoon, with Tory Henry Smith asking her to reject the 'chatter'. Mrs May said the claims were based on what 'someone said to someone else, as overheard by someone else, in a bar'. However, she risked inflaming the situation by stopping short of ruling out a delay to the Brexit date, Advertisement

Mrs May's hopes of a Valentine's Day love-in with Tory Brexiteers have been dashed after they accused her of a 'sneaky' bid to rule out leaving the EU without a deal.

A furious row has erupted after the PM tabled a motion for crunch Commons votes tomorrow that seemingly accepts the UK must not crash out of the bloc.

The spat centres on a Remainer-backed amendment that was passed by MPs two weeks ago rejecting the idea of no deal.

Although that vote was not binding on ministers, the government motion due to be considered tomorrow endorses 'the approach to leaving the EU expressed by this House on 29 January'.

That has been interpreted by Brexiteers as Mrs May admitting that no deal is off the agenda - despite the premier repeatedly insisting it is a possibility.

One senior Conservative Brexiteer told MailOnline the clash showed the level of 'distrust' between Eurosceptics and the leader.

Mrs May is also scrambling to defuse a bitter row with Brexiteers after her EU envoy was overheard saying she will put off a vote on her deal until the last moment - and then threaten to delay the UK's departure unless they approve it.

Olly Robbins loudly told companions in a hotel bar that the 'week beginning end of March' would be critical, just days before the UK is due to leave the bloc.

He suggested MPs will be confronted with a 'long extension' to the Article 50 process if they do not give the plan the green light at that point.

The private conversation, which happened within earshot of an ITV journalist on Monday night, sent Brexiteers into meltdown.

Mrs May has repeatedly insisted that the UK will leave on schedule on March 29 - despite growing doubts among ministers over whether that is realistic even if her package was passed immediately.

She was grilled about the issue at PMQs this afternoon, with Tory Henry Smith asking her to reject the 'chatter'. Mrs May said the claims were based on what 'someone said to someone else, as overheard by someone else, in a bar'.

However, she risked inflaming the situation by stopping short of ruling out a delay to the Brexit date,

Chief negotiator Olly Robbins was overheard talking in a bar about Mrs May and Brexit

The history of Ford in the United Kingdom: How firm grew from tiny dealership in Southampton to giant factory in Dagenham 1903 - The first Ford cars to be brought to Britain are the Model As. 1910 - Company opens its first dealership in Southampton soon after Ford Motor Company (England) Limited was established in London. 1917 - A plant was opened in Cork, Ireland for tractor manufacture but was eventually used for the manufacture of cars as well. 1923 - A new site for a car manufacturing factory is chosen by the River Thames in Dagenham. A landmark labour-relations dispute took place at the Dagenham plant, when on June 7 women sewing machinists walked out (pictured) 1929 - Construction starts on the new car plant in Dagenham, before opening in 1931 and manufacturing the Model AA Truck and Model A car. 1940 - During WWII, the Dagenham factory turned out 360,000 vehicles and a new factory in Trafford Park, Manchester was created. 1960s - The company opened factories in Halewood, Basildon, Swansea and Cork. 1968 - A landmark labour-relations dispute took place at the Dagenham plant, when on June 7 women sewing machinists walked out. The women were responsible for car seat covers and the strike led to a halt in all car production. The sewing machinists had been told they were Category B (less-skilled) workers and not Category C (more-skilled). But the dispute was eventually resolved when Barbara Castle, the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity stepped in and brokered a deal. The sewing machinists (pictured at a meeting) had been told they were Category B (less-skilled) workers and not Category C (more-skilled) The 187 women, who brought Ford to its knees and were a key milestone in the equal pay battle, had their experiences made into the 2010 Bafta-nominated film Made in Dagenham starring Sally Hawkins and Rosamund Pike. 1970s - Ford started to manufacture more cars in Europe, to prevent production being halted in a similar way to the 1968 walk-out. 1980s onwards - Production continued to be moved to Europe, and by 1990 the Fiesta was the only model built in Dagenham. 2013 - Car production stops at the Dagenham factory, with the company aiming for it to become a global centre of excellence for diesel engine production. Advertisement

Just six existing EU trade deals have been agreed ahead of Britain's scheduled departure from the European Union Just six existing EU trade deals – necessary in the event of No Deal – have been agreed in preparation for Brexit day. Trade Secretary Liam Fox has pledged to roll over 40 deals signed by the EU with 70 different countries to ensure they still apply to the UK after March 29. But a document, leaked to The Sun, revealed only six such deals have been agreed so far. It gave amber warnings to nine countries, including major economies South Korea and Canada. Red and black warnings were given to 23 other deals, including with Japan, Turkey and Mexico. This means they have no chance of being signed in time. The UK benefits from the deals, which cover 11 per cent of overall trade and are mostly based on World Trade Organisation rules, thanks to EU membership. Dr Fox said if there was a deal with the EU the agreements would continue until the end of the ‘transition’ period in 2020. Yesterday he told the Commons the talks would inevitably ‘go down to the wire, as ‘that’s the way that countries do business’. But Labour trade spokesman Barry Gardiner said ‘inadequate’ Government resources were ‘focused on the wrong priorities’. It came as US carmaker Ford warned a No Deal Brexit would be ‘catastrophic’ for its British operations. Earlier this week it was reported the company, which employs 13,000 Britons, is preparing alternative sites overseas to avoid No Deal disruption. Advertisement