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Theresa May faced down her Tory critics today amid reports they STILL didn't have the 48 no confidence letters needed to topple her.

The Prime Minister continued her fightback against her own party to sell her 585-page Brexit plan - despite the threat of a leadership contest and a Commons defeat.

Esther McVey and Dominic Raab both quit the Cabinet to fight the deal - which could leave the UK locked in Brussels customs rules or extend the "transition period" to 2022.

Reports over the weekend claimed a 'Breakfast Club' of Cabinet ministers - including Liam Fox, Andrea Leadsom, and Penny Mordaunt - hoped to reshape her deal in secret this week.

But Mrs May today declared to business chiefs that her deal has "been agreed in full".

(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

In a defiant speech to the CBI business group's annual conference, she said her Brexit deal "is good for the UK" and gives "control over our borders".

Ahead of a summit with 27 EU leaders to sign off the deal on Sunday, she will add: "We now have an intense week of negotiations ahead of us.

"During that time I expect us to hammer out the full and final details of the framework that will underpin our future relationship.

(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

"I am confident that we can strike a deal at the council that I can take back to the House of Commons.

"The core elements of that deal are already in place.

"The Withdrawal Agreement hs been agreed in full, subject of course to final agreement being reached on the future framework."

She added her deal will stop EU citizens being able to "jump the queue" for jobs "ahead of engineers from Sydney or software developers from Delhi."

Key points from UK's 611-page Brexit deal with EU The Brexit deal agreed by Theresa May and the EU covers two areas: the Withdrawal Agreement, covering the UK's exit from the EU, and the Political Declaration on a Future Framework, which sets out the relationship with the EU after Britain leaves. Key details on the Brexit deal include: 1. The Withdrawal Agreement The transition period can be extended until 2022 - after the next election

Goods face being checked between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK

A 'backstop' could extend EU customs rules UK-wide - and we'd need Brussels' permission to quit

European courts will still have a big hold on the UK 2. The Future Framework "Comprehensive arrangements that will create a free trade area" - not exactly the "frictionless trade" hoped for

Possible EU access to British fishing waters

We would remain tied to European courts

We'd respect human rights laws

Visas needed for long term trips to the EU

It has built in vagueness - kicking the can down the road for further negotiations Read about the deal in more depth here.

Reports today suggested the 'Breakfast Club' meeting was fizzling out before it started.

Allies of aid chief Penny Mordaunt told the Guardian and the Times she was not attending, while trade chief Liam Fox praised Theresa May's "great dignity" and said she "deserves our support".

Meanwhile backbench Tories are reportedly still gathering the 48 letters needed to force a no confidence vote in the Prime Minister.

Tory rebel Andrew Bridgen today claimed the figure would be reached by the end of the day.

Tory Anne Marie Morris said there was "no question" that the threshold would be reached this week.

But many in Westminster were surprised the 48 figure had not been reached already - especially after Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg submitted his letter in a blaze of publicity on Thursday.

(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

Tory MP Graham Brady, who as 1922 Committee chairman is the only person who knows how many letters there are, said yesterday some MPs lie about putting in a letter when really they have not.

And one Brexiteer told The Sun some MPs were "getting cold feet" after talking to their local parties over the weekend.

Tory rebel Simon Clarke urged fellow MPs to act now, pleading with them: "It is quite clear to me that the captain is driving the ship at the rocks."

(Image: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)

Up to 25 MPs have admitted publicly to submitting anonymous no confidence letters. Even privately the Sun found only 42 MPs who said they had done so.

That would leave six more needing to write to trigger a no confidence vote.

But a leadership contest - whose candidates could include Boris Johnson, David Davis and Dominic Raab - will only happen if 158 Tory MPs then vote against the PM.

(Image: Empics Entertainment)

If she wins the backing of 158 or more MPs she will simply carry on - with the rebels unable to challenge her for another year.

Tory SMP Therese Coffey said if there was to be a vote of no confidence, Mrs May would "win it convincingly" - making the whole saga an "unnecessary distraction".

Theresa May does, however, still face the very real threat of a defeat in Parliament when a vote is held before Christmas.

CBI president John Allan today warned warring MPs to back the deal or face a chaotic no deal Brexit.

"It avoids the wrecking ball that would be a no-deal departure," he declared.

And McLaren boss Mike Flewitt today warned No Deal Brexit on 29 March 2019 is "not an option".

Will Theresa May win the Brexit deal vote? Theresa May has a Brexit deal, but the danger is looming that it will be defeated in the House of Commons. Even getting it past her Cabinet forced Esther McVey and Dominic Raab to resign. Now she faces one more hurdle - a vote in Parliament on December 11. MPs are grouped in several factions - their warring opinions are explained more fully here. But if 318 or more vote against the deal, they will defeat the deal. Against the deal TORY BREXITEERS: There are up to about 80, led by Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg, threatening to vote down a deal that keeps Britain trapped in "vassalage" with Brussels. Not all are expected to live up to their threats. TORY HARD REMAINERS: Only about a dozen, but many - including Justine Greening and Jo Johnson - will vote against, instead wanting a second referendum. DUP: Theresa May's Northern Irish allies - who she handed £1.5bn - are 10-strong. They say they will vote down the deal. LABOUR LOYALISTS: About 150 MPs are consistently loyal to Jeremy Corbyn on Brexit. They'll be told to vote against the deal because it doesn't meet Labour's 'six tests'. LABOUR REMAINERS: There are about 50 hard Remainer Labour MPs. They're likely to oppose the deal to avoid enabling a Brexit. OTHERS: The SNP (35), Lib Dems (12), Plaid Cymru (4) and Greens (1) are all likely to vote against. For the deal TORY LOYALISTS: Well over 200 are likely to vote with Theresa May, for the deal. Many have paid government jobs - so would have to quit if they oppose her. 'NERVOUS LABOUR': Some Labour MPs could BACK a deal - fearing otherwise Britain will be plunged into an even worse No Deal. There could be 20 or more. Caroline Flint is among them. Unknown LABOUR BREXITEERS: There are only about half a dozen. It was generally thought they'd side with Theresa May, but Kate Hoey MP broke ranks and said she could vote against.

EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier revealed 2022 could be fixed as early as this week for the date of an optional extension to the 'transition period'.

And Austrian EU minister Gernot Blumel called the deal a "fair compromise", adding: "Break-ups are never easy but it's always better when it happens on friendly terms."

But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was expected to tell the CBI the "botched, worst of all worlds deal" must be rejected.

He was due to say this afternoon: "Labour has an alternative plan for a sensible jobs-first deal that could win support in parliament and help bring our country together.

"We want a new comprehensive and permanent customs union, with a British say in future trade deals."