Sir Bill Cash says 'no deal' Brexit is still possible as PM plots a third meaningful vote

The leading Brexiteer remains committed to opposing Theresa May's EU Withdrawal Agreement, with a Commons vote to permanently take 'no deal' off the table leading him to accuse the Government of presenting people with "a false choice".

The Stone MP said that despite Mrs May's plan to request an extension from the EU, it remained a matter of law that the UK would leave without a deal on the scheduled date on March 29 unless an agreement was reached.

Other Leave supporting MPs across the region are mulling over whether to support the deal, while West Midlands MP Daniel Kawczynski has become the latest Brexiteer to switch sides and reluctantly back it.

The deal could go before MPs again this week, although Downing Street has said a vote will only be called when the Government believes it has a chance of success. So far the deal has been defeated by margins of 230 and 149.

Stone MP Sir Bill has voted against it on both occasions and says he will be doing the same when it returns to Parliament. And he was adamant that a 'no deal' departure on March 29 was still possible.

"The backstop will not have been resolved, and therefore the constitutional status of Northern Ireland remains completely undermined," he said.

"We cannot be put into this position. Furthermore, in relation to the control of our laws, the transition period could be up to four years. This means we would be at the mercy of lawmakers from the other 27 member states, with laws passed behind closed doors without even so much as a transcript.

"I think the Government is presenting people with a false choice with this Withdrawal Agreement. The actual position is that as a matter of law, we will be leaving the EU on March 29."

Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant said many MPs wanted to see Mrs May agree to quit before they would support her deal.

"For me and other Leave supporters in Parliament, the decision is going to be finely balanced," he said.

"I do not like the Withdrawal Agreement as it keeps us under the control of Brussels for a period after we leave the EU.

"However, because the majority of MPs in the House of Commons support Remain, I am aware they will do everything in their power to frustrate Brexit.

"So I fear that if the Withdrawal Agreement does not pass, the alternative will be a much longer period before we leave the EU than that envisaged by the Prime Minister."

Downing Street reportedly held a series of telephone calls with Brexiteer MPs over the weekend in a bid to get them onside, although Mr Fabricant revealed he had not spoken to the Prime Minister personally.

"She knows my views anyway," he added. "But I do know from speaking to other MPs... the mood is that because Theresa May is essentially a Remainer, they would prefer to have someone else negotiate toughly with the EU in the next stages."

Walsall North MP Eddie Hughes has also opposed the deal twice, admitting that he was torn over which way to go until the final minutes before last week's vote.

He said much depended on the results of the Government's negotiations with the DUP.

"If the DUP are not reassured by the deal then how can I be? They are more directly impacted by the implications of the Irish backstop," he said.

"If they are convinced that the deal is the right one then I would certainly be more minded to support it. I still believe I made the right decision to vote against the deal, but I remain open-minded.

"I am keen to see what happens over the coming hours before making my decision."

Shrewsbury and Atcham MP Mr Kawczynski has now reluctantly backed the deal, having previously opposed it.

He said his constituents were “getting tired of the impasse and the imbroglio that parliament has got itself into”. He added: "They feel that although the deal isn’t optimal, now is the time to support it, otherwise we could lose Brexit.

"Those of us who campaigned for Brexit cannot put Brexit in jeopardy, and that’s why we are going to have to, I’m afraid, vote for the deal."

Telford MP Lucy Allan said she would not bow to threats that there would be no Brexit if the deal was not passed.

“I will vote on the merits of the deal, and not be influenced by the threat of what others might do to stop Brexit subsequently, which we cannot predict," she said.