
Theresa May last night hailed her Brexit deal as being in the 'national interest' after convincing her Cabinet to back it - but only after a stormy five-hour meeting in which minister after minister had spoken against the plans, sparking fears of an imminent coup against her leadership from furious Brexiteers.

Mrs May finally won the day after declaring it was 'this or Jeremy Corbyn', but the fallout from the discussions left at least one minister - Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey - on 'resignation watch'.

In all at least 10 mutinous ministers spoke out against Mrs May's draft deal with Brussels during the meeting that stretched into yesterday evening.

Ms McVey called for a formal ministerial vote during the tempestuous debate before Mrs May rebuffed her. Others who declared themselves against the plans included International Trade Minister Liam Fox, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson and Home Secretary Sajid Javid.

After the Cabinet battle, which went on three hours longer than scheduled, the premier took to the steps of Downing Street admitting that the debate had been 'long and impassioned' and there were 'difficult days ahead'.

'The collective decision of Cabinet was that the government should agree the draft Withdrawal Agreement and the outline political declaration,' Mrs May said. 'I firmly believe with my head and heart that this decisive choice is in the best interests of the entire UK.'

Mrs May's reference to a 'collective' decision rather than a unanimous one immediately raised eyebrows. Around 10 ministers - nearly a third of the total - are understood to have spoken out against parts of the package, amid reports that a no confidence vote against the PM could be triggered as early as today.

Aid Secretary Penny Mordaunt, who was thought to be among those closest to quitting, demanded assurances from the premier on key points. Defence Secretary Gavin Willliamson also expressed reservations about elements of the deal, as did Sajid Javid, Liam Fox, Jeremy Hunt and Andrea Leadsom.

But one Cabinet source told MailOnline that Ms McVey was an 'outlier' in the strength of her opposition, and appeared 'emotional'.

There are also rumours swirling about Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab's intentions after he endorsed the plans with a 'heavy heart'.

Scottish Secretary David Mundell had emerged as a potential risk after he signed a letter warning against giving away fishing rights as part of the agreement, but tonight confirmed that he was staying in the tent.

However, the apparent victory for the PM could be only temporary respite, as she faces an even bigger task to get the measures through Parliament amid a massive mutiny from Tory backbenchers and the DUP, and Labour opposition.

There are growing signs that Mrs May could face an imminent no confidence vote. The Eurosceptic ERG group - which claims to have up to 80 Tory MP members - has shifted its position after previously holding off sending letters to the 1922 committee chairman Graham Brady.

An ex-minister told MailOnline: 'I think a few people are holding off, will read the deal, square off their associations this weekend, then put in a letter.'

Meanwhile, DUP leader Arlene Foster has turned up the heat by warning Mrs May there will be 'consequences' if she pushes her plan through.

After nearly five hours of behind-closed doors discussions, the PM declared that she will press ahead with her controversial plan

Aid Secretary Penny Mordaunt was summoned to Downing Street for pre-Cabinet talks this morning, amid rumours she is considering quitting. And she was one of the first to arrive for the Cabinet meeting this afternoon

DUP leader Arlene Foster - whose 10 MPs are propping Mrs May up in power - warned there would be 'consequences' if Mrs May pushes her deal through

Environment Secretary Michael Gove (left) is said to be 'tense', while Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom has deep misgivings about some of the compromises in negotiations with Brussels

Mrs May delivered an impassioned defence of the package at PMQs earlier, insisting it was a 'significant' step forward in taking the UK out of the EU.

But she was warned she is making a 'shambolic mess' of the talks by Jeremy Corbyn - and her own MPs said she was 'not delivering the Brexit people voted for'.

The trouble was brewing as Boris Johnson vented fury over a leaked note claiming the deal means the UK will have to 'swallow' EU rules for good.

The former foreign secretary urged ministers to 'live up to their responsibilities' by blocking the agreement from going forward.

A draft Brexit deal agreed - but how WILL May get it through (and save her job)? Theresa May has struck a Brexit deal with Brussels - but now has to sell it to her Cabinet and then Parliament. Here is how events could develop now a draft agreement has been reached. Emergency EU Summit, Brussels, late November What will happen? If the divorce package is agreed by the cabinet, it will need to be signed off by EU leaders. EU council president Donald Tusk will convene a summit where formal approval will be given by EU leaders. This is expected sometime between November 22 and 25. Will the whole deal be agreed? The Brexit deal is due to come in two parts - a formal divorce treaty and a political declaration on what the final trade deal might look like. The second part may not be finished until a regular EU summit due on December 13-14. Assuming the negotiations have reached an agreement and Mrs May travels to Brussels with her Cabinet's support, this stage should be a formality. What if there is no agreement? If EU leaders do not sign off on the deal at this stage, no deal becomes highly likely - there is just no time left to negotiate a wholly new deal. The so-called 'meaningful vote' in the UK Parliament, December 2019 What will happen: A debate, probably over more than one day, will be held in the House of Commons on terms of the deal. It will end with a vote on whether or not MPs accept the deal. More than one vote might happen if MPs are allowed to table amendments. The vote is only happening after MPs forced the Government to accept a 'meaningful vote' in Parliament on the terms of the deal. What happens if May wins? If the meaningful vote is passed, there will be a series of further votes as the withdrawal treaty is written into British law. It will be a huge political victory for the Prime Minister and probably secure her version of Brexit. How can she win? The Prime Minister needs a majority of the House of Commons - excluding the Speakers, Sinn Fein and Tellers this means 318 votes. She can rely on around 150 members of the Government and maybe another 80 Tory MPs - getting her to about 230 votes - leaving her almost 90 votes short. Mrs May is likely to get the backing of some Labour MPs - but probably no more than 45 at the most. This mean she can only win the vote if she can squeeze the Brexiteer rebels down from up to 80 votes and get the 10 DUP MPs in line. Depending on the number of Labour rebels, she could have to win the support of 50 hardcore Tory Brexiteer MPs to get her What happens if she loses? This is possibly the most dangerous stage of all. The Prime Minister will have to stake her political credibility on winning a vote and losing it would be politically devastating. Brexiteers do not want to sign off the divorce bill without a satisfactory trade deal and Remainers are reluctant to vote for a blind Brexit. She could go back to Brussels to ask for new concessions before a second vote but many think she would have to resign quickly. Ratification in the EU, February 2019 What will happen? After the meaningful vote in the UK, the EU will have to ratify the agreement. The European Parliament must also vote in favour of the deal. It has a representative in the talks, Guy Verhofstadt, who has repeatedly warned the deal must serve the EU's interests. Will it be agreed? In practice, once the leaders of the 27 member states have agreed a deal, ratification on the EU side should be assured. If the deal has passed the Commons and she is still in office, this should not be dangerous for the Prime Minister. Exit day, March 29, 2019 At 11pm on March 29, 2019, Britain will cease to be a member of the European Union, two years after triggering Article 50 and almost three years after the referendum. Exit happens at 11pm because it must happen on EU time. If the transition deal is in place, little will change immediately - people will travel in the same way as today and goods will cross the border normally. But Britain's MEPs will no longer sit in the European Parliament and British ministers will no longer take part in EU meetings. Negotiations will continue to turn the political agreement on the future partnership into legal text that will eventually become a second treaty. Both sides will build new customs and immigration controls in line with what this says. Transition ends, December 2020 The UK's position will undergo a more dramatic change at the end of December 2020, when the 'standstill' transition is due to finish. If the negotiations on a future trade deal are complete, that could come into force. But if they are still not complete the Irish border 'backstop' plan could be triggered. Under current thinking, that means the UK staying in the EU customs union and more regulatory checks between mainland Britain and Northern Ireland. Eurosceptics fear this arrangement will prevent the country striking trade deals elsewhere, and could effectively last for ever, as Brussels will have no incentive to negotiate a replacement deal. Advertisement

Mrs May spent much of the morning engaged in frantic efforts to win over wavering ministers to the blueprint ahead of the Cabinet meeting.

Irish PM Leo Varadkar has revealed that if she is successful an EU summit to sign off the pact will be summoned on November 25.

But Mrs May suffered a major blow when it emerged Michel Barnier's deputy, Sabine Weyand, boasted about the divorce package in a briefing for Brussels officials.

She apparently claimed the UK will have to 'align their rules but the EU will retain all the controls', bragging that Britain is effectively accepting staying in the customs union for good, and will have to 'swallow' demands over fishing waters.

The extraordinary comments will reaffirm the fears of Brexiteers - and could tip ministers over the edge.

In a stunningly vicious backlash, Tory Eurosceptics and the DUP have warned Mrs May that her 'days are numbered' if she sticks to the plan.

Mr Johnson jibed today that the mooted package rules out a looser Canada-style relationship with the EU.

'This means super-Canada impossible. Cabinet must live up to its responsibilities & stop this deal,' he tweeted.

Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey is also considered at high risk of quitting, but the intention of others is unclear. Cabinet sources told MailOnline that things were still 'up in the air'.

Doubts about Mr Mundell were raised when he join 12 other Scottish Tory MPs - in signing a joint letter warning the PM they could not support a deal which failed to restore 'complete control and full sovereignty' over the UK's fishing waters.

Mr Mundell is among the few MPs to have viewed the draft agreement.

In the letter, the MPs warn: 'We could not support an agreement with the EU that would prevent the UK from independently negotiating access and quota shares... We also cannot stay in the Common Fisheries Policy after December 2020.'

Mrs May might be able to survive one or two departures, but fears are running high that the whole process could spectacularly collapse.

Speaking at PMQs, Mrs May said her package 'brings us significantly closer to delivering on what the British people voted for in the referendum'.

'We will take back control of our laws, borders and our money. We will leave the Commons Fisheries Policy and the Common Agricultural Policy while protecting jobs, security and the integrity of our United Kingdom,' she said.

'I will come back to the House to update it on the outcome.'

But Tory Brexiteer Peter Bone confronted the premier with his concerns, saying: 'If media reports about the EU agreement are in any way accurate, you are not delivering on the Brexit people voted for and today you will lose the support of many Conservative MPs and millions of voters around the country.'

Mrs May insisted she was delivering on the referendum – pointing to curbs on free movement - and added: 'This is a deal that delivers on that vote but in doing so protect jobs, protects the integrity of the United Kingdom and protects the security of people in this country.'

She acknowledged concerns about the fallback position of the UK being closely tied to the EU's customs union becoming a permanent situation but insisted that if the arrangement was needed it would be temporary.

'I am aware of the concerns that there are, that we don't want to be in a position where the European Union would find it comfortable to keep the UK in the backstop permanently,' she told MPs. 'That's why any backstop has to be temporary.'

Jeremy Corbyn attacked Mrs May's draft deal, describing it as a 'failure in its own terms'.

The Labour leader said: 'After two years of bungled negotiations, from what we know of the Government's deal it's a failure in its own terms.'

But Mrs May shot back by accusing Labour of seeking to 'frustrate' Brexit.

'Time and time again he has stood up in this House and complained and said that the Government isn't making progress, that the Government isn't anywhere close to a deal,' she said.

'Now when we're making progress and close to a deal he's complaining about that.

At an emergency Cabinet meeting expected to run for a marathon three hours this afternoon, the PM will warn ministers it is now 'make or break' for avoiding a chaotic exit.

Downing Street claims it has headed off plans that could have led to Northern Ireland being 'annexed' by the EU after Brexit and insists it has laid the groundwork for a 'good deal'.

But according to a note leaked to The Times, Ms Weyand told European ambassadors on Friday that the UK was getting the worst of the deal.

'We should be in the best negotiation position for the future relationship. This requires the customs union as the basis of the future relationship,' she said.

'They must align their rules but the EU will retain all the controls. They apply the same rules.

'UK wants a lot more from future relationship, so EU retains its leverage.'

She added that Britain 'would have to swallow a link between access to products and fisheries in future agreements'.

Other notes of the remarks were apparently less inflammatory - claiming she had in fact suggested the 'backstop' was the 'starting point' for future trade talks.

Mrs May is yet to publish her 400-500 page draft EU withdrawal agreement, but it is understood to include:

A guarantee there will no physical border checks reintroduced between Northern Ireland and the Republic;

A backstop to avoid a hard border that would come into force after a mooted transition period in December 2020 - and last 'unless and until' another solution is put in place.

Brussels is said to have dropped its demand to create a border in the Irish Sea;

But instead the customs union would apply indefinitely to the whole of the UK and Britain could not be able to walk away from the arrangement without approval from an 'independent panel' made up of civil servants from the EU and Britain;

There could also be enhanced regulatory checks between mainland Britain and Northern Ireland;

Commitments to ensure a 'level playing field' during the backstop including accepting EU rules on environmental and labour standards and state aid;

A review due to be held in July 2020, towards the end of the transition period, will decide whether the backstop needs to come into force;

The three million EU citizens living in the UK and one million British citizens living in the EU will keep all their existing rights post-Brexit;

A divorce bill of between £39billion and £46billion will be paid to Brussels;

DUP leader Arlene Foster - whose 10 MPs are propping Mrs May up in power - has flown to London for crisis talks and to read the Withdrawal Agreement in full.

Speaking to journalists in Parliament's Central Lobby, she warned her party would not 'be led by anyone' and would decide how it votes after seeing the deal.

She said: 'The Prime Minister has been very clear about our position. Just to be clear we wrote to her on November 1.

'If she decides to go against that – to go against herself because on many occasions she has stood up and said she will not break up the United Kingdom… if she decides to go against all of that there will be consequences.'

Is May's deal already sunk? 100 Tories, the DUP and Labour have come out against - leaving her staring at defeat on December 11 Theresa May's task of getting her Brexit deal past the House of Commons is looking near-impossible as opposition mounts. The 'meaningful vote' promised to MPs will happen on December 11 and is the single biggest hurdle to the Brexit deal happening - as well as being the key to Mrs May' fate as PM. But despite opinion polls suggesting the public might be coming round to her deal, there is little sign of a shift among politicians. Remainers have been stepping up calls for a second referendum in the wake of Sam Gyimah's resignation as universities minister over the weekend - while Brexiteers including Boris Johnson have accused Mrs May of betrayal. Mrs May needs at least 318 votes in the Commons if all 650 MPs turns up - but can probably only be confident of around 230 votes. The number is less than half because the four Speakers, 7 Sinn Fein MPs and four tellers will not take part. The situation looks grim for Mrs May and her whips: now the deal has been published, over 100 of her own MPs and the 10 DUP MPs have publicly stated they will join the Opposition parties in voting No. This means the PM could have as few as 225 votes in her corner - leaving 410 votes on the other side, a landslide majority 185. This is how the House of Commons might break down: Mrs May needs at least 318 votes in the Commons if all 650 MPs turns up - but can probably only be confident of around 230 votes. Mrs May needs at least 318 votes in the Commons if all 650 MPs turns up - but can probably only be confident of around 230 votes. The Government (plus various hangers-on) Who are they: All members of the Government are the so-called 'payroll' vote and are obliged to follow the whips orders or resign. It includes the Cabinet, all junior ministers, the whips and unpaid parliamentary aides. There are also a dozen Tory party 'vice-chairs and 17 MPs appointed by the PM to be 'trade envoys'. How many of them are there? 178. What do they want? For the Prime Minister to survive, get her deal and reach exit day with the minimum of fuss. Many junior ministers want promotion while many of the Cabinet want to be in a position to take the top job when Mrs May goes. How will they vote? With the Prime Minister. European Research Group Brexiteers demanding a No Confidence Vote Who are they: The most hard line of the Brexiteers, they launched a coup against Mrs May after seeing the divorce. Led by Jacob Rees-Mogg and Steve Baker. How many of them are there: 26 What do they want: The removal of Mrs May and a 'proper Brexit'. Probably no deal now, with hopes for a Canada-style deal later. How will they vote: Against the Prime Minister. Other Brexiteers in the ERG Who are they: There is a large block of Brexiteer Tory MPs who hate the deal but have so far stopped short of moving to remove Mrs May - believing that can destroy the deal instead. They include ex Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith and ex minister Owen Paterson. Ex ministers like Boris Johnson and David Davis are also in this group - they probably want to replace Mrs May but have not publicly moved against her. How many of them are there? Around 50. What do they want? The ERG has said Mrs May should abandon her plans for a unique trade deal and instead negotiate a 'Canada plus plus plus' deal. This is based on a trade deal signed between the EU and Canada in August 2014 that eliminated 98 per cent of tariffs and taxes charged on goods shipped across the Atlantic. The EU has long said it would be happy to do a deal based on Canada - but warn it would only work for Great Britain and not Northern Ireland. How will they vote: Against the Prime Minister. Remain including the People's Vote supporters Who are they: Tory MPs who believe the deal is just not good enough for Britain. They include the group of unrepentant Remainers who want a new referendum like Anna Soubry and ex-ministers who quit over the deal including Jo Johnson and Phillip Lee. How many of them are there: Maybe around 10. What do they want? To stop Brexit. Some want a new referendum, some think Parliament should step up and say no. A new referendum would take about six months from start to finish and they group wants Remain as an option on the ballot paper, probably with Mrs May's deal as the alternative. How will they vote? Against the Prime Minister. Moderates in the Brexit Delivery Group (BDG) and other Loyalists Who are they? A newer group, the BDG counts members from across the Brexit divide inside the Tory Party. It includes former minister Nick Boles and MPs including Remainer Simon Hart and Brexiteer Andrew Percy. There are also lots of unaligned Tory MPs who are desperate to talk about anything else. How many of them are there? Based on public declarations, about 48 MPs have either said nothing or backed the deal. What do they want? The BDG prioritises delivering on Brexit and getting to exit day on March 29, 2019, without destroying the Tory Party or the Government. If the PM gets a deal the group will probably vote for it. It is less interested in the exact form of the deal but many in it have said Mrs May's Chequers plan will not work. Mr Boles has set out a proposal for Britain to stay in the European Economic Area (EEA) until a free trade deal be negotiated - effectively to leave the EU but stay in close orbit as a member of the single market. How will they vote? With the Prime Minister. The DUP Who are they? The Northern Ireland Party signed up to a 'confidence and supply' agreement with the Conservative Party to prop up the Government. They are Unionist and say Brexit is good but must not carve Northern Ireland out of the Union. How many of them are there? 10. What do they want? A Brexit deal that protects Northern Ireland inside the UK. How will they vote? Against the Prime Minister on the grounds they believe the deal breaches the red line of a border in the Irish Sea. Labour Loyalists Who are they? Labour MPs who are loyal to Jeremy Corbyn and willing to follow his whipping orders. How many of them are there? Up to 250 MPs depending on exactly what Mr Corbyn orders them to do. What do they want? Labour policy is to demand a general election and if the Government refuses, 'all options are on the table', including a second referendum. Labour insists it wants a 'jobs first Brexit' that includes a permanent customs union with the EU. It says it is ready to restart negotiations with the EU with a short extension to the Article 50 process. The party says Mrs May's deal fails its six tests for being acceptable. How will they vote? Against the Prime Minister's current deal. Labour Rebels Who are they? A mix of MPs totally opposed to Mr Corbyn's leadership, some Labour Leave supporters who want a deal and some MPs who think any deal will do at this point. How many of them are there? Maybe 10 to 20 MPs but this group is diminishing fast - at least for the first vote on the deal. What do they want? An orderly Brexit and to spite Mr Corbyn. How will they vote? With the Prime Minister. Other Opposition parties Who are they? The SNP, Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru, Green Caroline Lucas and assorted independents. How many of them are there? About 60 MPs. How will they vote? Mostly against the Prime Minister - though two of the independents are suspended Tories and two are Brexiteer former Labour MPs. Advertisement

Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley (left) is a close ally of the PM, while Dominic Raab (right) is expected to hang on despite serious doubts

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt's endorsement will be critical if Mrs May is to get her proposals past Cabinet

Attorney General Geoffrey Cox, an eminent QC and staunch Brexiteer, has emerged as a key figure in wrangling over the Irish border 'backstop'. Treasury minister Liz Truss (right) is also among those joining the session

Flanked by senior ministers at PMQs in the Commons earlier today, Mrs May tried to put a brave face on her Brexit woes

Boris Johnson (right) arrived at Parliament today on his bike as he led criticism of the Brexit blueprint thrashed out by the government

Boris Johnson highlighted the remarks by Ms Weyand as he urged ministers to 'stop this deal' (left). The DUP's Sammy Wilson said his party would 'not be voting for this humiliation'

Ominously, she stressed that the party's confidence and supply deal was with the Tories rather than Mrs May personally.

DUP chief whip Jeffrey Donaldson upped the pressure earlier by making clear it was currently determined to reject the proposals.

How Boris and Rees-Mogg ambushed the PM's Brexit plan Boris Johnson was live on TV in central lobby within minutes of the deal emerging last night (pictured) as the Tory rebels launched an ambush on the plans Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg joined forces with the DUP to launch an ambush on Theresa May's Brexit deal within minutes of it emerging last night. Tory rebels dramatically marched to Parliament's Central Lobby - flanked by the bloc of DUP MPs who are supposed to be propping up Mrs May in No 10 - to hold court with journalists. In a furious briefing before a deal was even confirmed by Downing Street, they derided it as 'totally unacceptable' because it would leave the UK a 'vassal state' under the yolk of EU control. Mr Johnson and Mr Rees-Mogg, the leader of the Brexiteer European Research Group, renewed their attack on the plans today demanding the Cabinet throw out the plan. Last night's ambush began within minutes of details being leaked to the Irish broadcaster RTE at around 4pm. Just 90 minutes later the rebel MPs were speaking live to broadcasters just feet from the Commons chamber having arrived from Iain Duncan Smith's office. The condemnation of the plans had started before Downing Street had even confirmed it had a deal and Mrs May would meet Cabinet ministers one-on-one before a crucial meeting later today. Advertisement

He told BBC Radio 4's Today the Unionist party 'don't fear a general election', when asked whether it would risk Jeremy Corbyn, a long-term supporter of a united Ireland.

He said: 'It's not about who is prime minister, it's not about who governs the country, it's about the constitutional and economic integrity of the UK, that is fundamental for us.

'And it is not just us, the DUP does not stand alone on this, we have many friends within the Conservative Party and indeed in some other parties, who believe this deal has the potential to lead to the break-up of the UK.

'That is not something we can support.'

If the PM manages to squeeze her plan past Cabinet she will argue it represents the only chance of a deal, or risk crashing out of the EU on March 29 next year.

Mrs May appears to have convinced Brussels to drop its demand that Northern Ireland should remain in the customs union during the transition period that ends on December 31 2020.

But in return she may have agreed to a 'level playing field' measures tying Britain to more EU rules in that period.

Iain Duncan Smith warned last night that the Prime Minister's 'days were numbered' if she tried to keep the UK tied to Brussels.

Mrs May's ability to get a deal through Parliament was put in doubt when Eurosceptic MPs were joined at an impromptu Westminster briefing by senior figures in the Democratic Unionist Party.

They voiced fury at reports that the proposed agreement could drive a wedge between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

Intriguingly, Mr Duncan Smith was also seen entering the famous building - although it is thought he was in to talk about a government climbdown over delays to curbs on 'crack cocaine' gambling machines.

As she left home today, Mrs Leadsom told journalists: 'I've had a good conversation with the PM and I'm looking at the details of the deal today and I'm extremely optimistic that we'll have a good deal, but I'm looking at the details today.'

Moderate Tories accused leading Brexiteers of 'throwing their toys out of the pram' before they have even seen the details of the proposed withdrawal agreement.

And today former foreign secretary Lord Hague cautioned MPs that voting down Mrs May's deal might mean 'Brexit never happens'.

Here is the full text of Theresa May's statement on the steps of Downing Street The Cabinet has just had a long, detailed and impassioned debate on the draft withdrawal agreement and the outline political declaration on our future relationship with the European Union. These documents were the result of thousands of hours of hard negotiation by UK officials and many many meetings which I and other ministers held with our EU counterparts. I firmly believe that the draft withdrawal agreement was the best that could be negotiated, and it was for the Cabinet to decide whether to move on in the talks. The choices before us were difficult, particularly in relation to the Northern Ireland backstop. But the collective decision of cabinet was that the government should agree the draft withdrawal agreement and the outline political declaration. This is a decisive step which enables us to move on and finalise the deal in the days ahead. These decisions were not taken lightly but I believe it is a decision that is firmly in the national interest. When you strip away the detail the choice before us is clear: this deal, which delivers on the vote of the referendum, which brings back control of our money, laws and borders, ends free movement, protects jobs, security and our Union, or leave with no deal, or no Brexit at all. I know that there will be difficult days ahead. This is a decision that will come under intense scrutiny and that is entirely as it should be and entirely understandable. But the choice was this deal which enables us to take back control and build a brighter future for our country, or go back to square one with more divisions, more uncertainty and a failure to deliver on the referendum. it is my job as Prime Minister to explain the decision the government have taken, and I stand ready to do that, beginning tomorrow with a statement in parliament. But if I may end by just saying this: I believe that what I owe to this country is to take decisions that are in the national interest and I firmly believe with my head and my heart that this is a decision which is in the best interests of our entire United Kingdom. Advertisement

'For the DUP... they advocated leaving the EU, they also have to face up to the fact that if they vote down a deal because they are not happy with the details, well, the consequences may be that Brexit never happens,' he told the BBC.

However, worryingly for Mrs May, leading Tory Remainer Dominic Grieve said he currently could not support the package.

How has Theresa May tried to resolve the Irish border issue? The Brexit divorce negotiations have boiled down to the issue of the Irish border and Theresa May is claiming victory. The line between Northern Ireland and the Republic will be the UK's only land border with the EU after we leave the bloc. Brussels had initially demanded that Northern Ireland stays within its jurisdiction for customs and most single market rules to avoid a hard border. But it appears the PM has encouraged them to back down by agreeing a deal being compared to a swimming pool. It is understood that during the transition period lasting until the end of 2020, Northern Ireland will be in the 'deep end' of the pool. NI would have a 'special status' to be aligned to more of the EU's rules while mainland Britain will be in the 'shallow end' and have to accept fewer rules than Belfast. Irish broadcaster RTE reported that the deal now involves one overall 'backstop' in the form of a UK-wide customs arrangement - as sought by Mrs May - but with deeper provisions for Northern Ireland on customs and regulations. The Guardian reported that an independent arbitration committee will judge when a UK-wide customs backstop could be terminated. There will also be a review in July 2019 six months before the end of the transition period, at which it will be determined how to proceed - a new trade deal, the backstop or an extension to the transition period. Attorney General Geoffrey Cox is said to have told Cabinet that Northern Ireland will be in a 'different regulatory regime' under the customs backstop and subject to EU law and institutions, something that may 'cross a line' for the DUP. Advertisement

'I could not look my constituents in the eye and say this would be a better deal than the one we have as a member of the EU,' he said.

Former minister Philip Lee said he wanted a second referendum. 'Where we're going to end up is not where was promised. This is political fraud, and I'm not putting my name to it,' he said.

Yesterday's breakthrough came after days of gruelling negotiations in Brussels, in which both sides made further concessions.

Downing Street was tight-lipped about the contents of the withdrawal agreement, which runs to more than 400 pages of legal text.

An accompanying document on the 'future framework' is said to be as short as five pages, and is set to be the subject of intense negotiations.

But sources said Brussels had backed down over the controversial 'backstop' plan which is designed to prevent a return to a hard border in Northern Ireland if trade talks falter.

The EU had demanded a scheme that would have kept Northern Ireland in the customs union after the rest of the UK left. Brussels has now accepted a proposal that could keep the whole UK in a temporary backstop until trade terms are finalised.

A Government source said: 'The idea of a Northern Ireland-only customs backstop has been dropped. There is no backstop to the backstop.'

Last week, seven Cabinet ministers, including Mr Raab warned Mrs May that the UK must have a 'unilateral' exit clause from the arrangement.

Sajid Javid yesterday became the latest minister to warn the deal would not get through Parliament without this.

But the proposal was rejected by Brussels and is thought to have been replaced by a complex joint mechanism, which will raise Eurosceptic fears that Britain could be 'trapped' in a customs union against its will.

Sources said the deal allows for an independent panel to decide when the UK can leave a backstop arrangement.

It will review progress on a transition deal in July 2019 and decide if the UK is ready to switch to a free trade deal, transfer to the backstop or extend the transition period until 2021, reported the Guardian.

The EU demanded a 'level playing field' guarantee, which could see the UK made to follow Brussels rules during any backstop period.

The Daily Telegraph reported that the European Court of Justice would have a role in deciding when the backstop arrangement would end, something that would infuriate Eurosceptics.

The newspaper also said that the Attorney General, Geoffrey Cox, told the Cabinet the backstop arrangement would leave Northern Ireland under a 'different regulatory regime subject to EU law and institutions.'

Earlier this week, Miss Mordaunt suggested the Cabinet was ready to act as a check on Mrs May's Brexit compromises.

Michel Barnier (pictured in Brussels this week) seemed to make a bid to bounce the UK into a deal, after he briefed EU ambassadors a deal was 'largely' done

Irish news organisations claimed the agreement involved deeper customs and regulatory checks between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, breaching a DUP 'red line'.

A Whitehall source last night dismissed this claim as Dublin 'spin'. The source warned there was no realistic prospect of further concessions from Brussels, adding: 'It's make or break time. This is the basis for a good deal, but the negotiators are clear they have taken this as far as they can.'

The DUP said it had been kept in the dark, raising doubts about the future of the confidence and supply deal that props up Mrs May's minority government at Westminster.

Speaking on Ireland's broadcaster RTE the Democratic Unionist Party's Sammy Wilson said it was not a deal that his party could support.

'What we've heard and seen of the deal it is something which we would absolutely oppose,' Mr Wilson said.

So what has been agreed with the EU? Ireland: The Prime Minister has killed off EU demands for a Northern Ireland-only 'backstop' designed to prevent a hard border with the Republic. However, in its place is a 'temporary' plan that could see the whole UK stay in a form of customs union until a trade deal is finalised. Regulations: The UK is set to have to follow most single market regulations during any backstop period. Theresa May has said she wants the UK to continue following a 'common rule book' for goods and farm products in the final trade deal – a move opposed by Brexiteers. Money: The Brexit deal will confirm a £39billion 'divorce payment' to the EU and is expected to outline a mechanism for agreeing additional payments in the event of an extended transition. Trade: The deal is expected to contain only a brief 'political declaration' on future trade arrangements. Ministers hope to beef this up before MPs are asked to vote on the deal next month. Citizens: The deal will guarantee the existing rights of the three million EU citizens living in the UK and the one million Britons living in Europe. But the EU is still pushing for the UK's new immigration system to grant preferential treatment to EU citizens in return for a better trade deal. Advertisement

'It goes against everything the Government promised it would deliver. Indeed it's a regurgitation of what the Prime Minister said last March, no British Prime Minister could ever sign up to and it would split the United Kingdom.

'It would keep the UK tied and handcuffed to the European Union with the key for those handcuffs remaining in the hands of the EU.'

He added: 'I don't think it's only us who will be opposing it.'

Members of the European Research Group urged ministers to block the deal. Chairman Jacob Rees-Mogg said: 'It is a failure of the Government's negotiating position, it is a failure to deliver on Brexit and it is potentially dividing up the United Kingdom.'

Former foreign secretary Mr Johnson said: 'For the first time in a thousand years, this place, this Parliament, will not have a say over the laws that govern this country. It is a quite incredible state of affairs.'

But moderate MPs suggested the Eurosceptic response had little to do with the details of the deal.

Simon Hart, founder of the Brexit Delivery Group of MPs, which is backing efforts to strike a deal, said: 'This is now judgement day. Every minister and MP needs to weigh up what's on offer, compare it with alternative outcomes and make their decision and live with the consequences.

'Using this moment to play politics or grandstand will rightly be greeted with dismay by all our voters, irrespective of whether they voted to leave or remain.

'We are looking for calm assessment of the position, not the political hysteria which has been all too frequent when discussing Europe.'

Michel Barnier's team was due to update member states in Brussels on the deal this afternoon.

The meeting had originally been intended only to cover no-deal preparedness but has now had 'state of play' on the talks added to the agenda.

One diplomat said: 'The ball is on the side of the UK and its internal processes. It's now for Theresa May's Cabinet to decide if it is satisfied.'

Further Brussels sources last night said the deal would include a review before the end of the transition to determine whether to trigger the Irish backstop.

Who were the key power brokers on each side of the talks? Both Britain and the EU had teams of negotiators hammering out the final stages of the deal working late into the night. The two sides were led by a group of powerful individuals at the head of small armies of officials tasked with turning political deals into cold legal text. In the final days the teams have worked until the small hours to finalise a deal that could be put to an emergency summit later this month. Talks on Sunday night ran until 2.45am. The final deal is thought to be at least 500 pages long and civil servants on both sides have spent months hammering out the detailed legal language. The treaty includes clauses on the divorce payment, rights of nationals on both sides and crucially how the Irish border will work. The key players on each side were: TEAM UK Dominic Raab Brexit Secretary Drafted in to replace David Davis in July, Raab was ordered to deliver the Chequers plan as Theresa May's political representative in the talks. A committed Brexiteer, he was part of the Vote Leave campaign and leading DEXEU was his first Cabinet job. Unlike his predecessor, Raab was explicitly appointed to deputise for the Prime Minister in the talks rather than personally lead them - but has been the point man in Brussels. Oliver Robbins Prime Minister's Europe adviser At around 6ft 3in, the burly civil servant certainly looks like he won't be messed with, but is best known in Whitehall for his intellect. Only 43, the Oxford PPE graduate has already served in senior roles for David Cameron, Theresa May and Gordon Brown. Brexiteers have repeatedly criticised him for dragging the talks toward a soft deal. TEAM EU Michel Barnier Chief EU Brexit negotiator A seasoned French official was once called an 'enemy of Britain' for trying to impose controls on the City. Ambitious, he is distrusted in some UK quarters, but is also known as an ultra-charming negotiator. Brexit role has made him a 'rock star' figure in Brussels. Promised a hard-line approach throughout the talks and never deviated from the rules handed to him by EU leaders. Sabine Weyand Michel Barnier's deputy A former student at Cambridge in the 1980s and seen as one 'the best and brightest' of the Brussels technocrats. The German has more than 20 years' experience carving out trade deals for the Commission. Can be brusque but is known as a problem-solver. Brexit Secretary DOominic Raab and EU negotiator Michel Barnier have led the teams finalising the deal in recent weeks Advertisement