AG百家乐在线官网

A senior cabinet minister has refused to explicitly support the Chequers proposal, as former Brexit secretary David Davis warned it could lose the Conservatives the next election.

International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt gave a staunch defence of Theresa May during a speech on UK aid spending, but avoided explicitly endorsing the prime minister's central Brexit proposal.

She insisted Mrs May "has my support and I am not in any way expecting that situation to change".

But Ms Mordaunt suggested the Chequers plan may have to be amended to get a final deal past Brussels and backbench Tory MPs, saying that "we don't know where this is going to end up".

"We are at a critical moment now," the Leave-campaigning Portsmouth North MP admitted.

"The ball is firmly back in the EU's court. We are waiting for them to respond."

Pushed on whether she supported the Chequers proposal, Ms Mordaunt refused to give a "running commentary" but promised journalists she was "supporting the prime minister".

The Chequers proposal is the negotiating stance adopted by Theresa May's cabinet, named after her grace and favour official countryside residence.

Mr Davis resigned as Brexit secretary in July over the proposal, which would see the UK maintain a "common rulebook" for all goods, including agricultural products.

:: Govt figures 'may be preparing for UK to rejoin EU'

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

2:07

On parliament's first day back after the conference recess, he ramped up pressure on Mrs May to drop the scheme, warning in a letter to Tory MPs that it could see them lose the next election.

The party was on course to deliver "none of the benefits of Brexit", and reducing the country to a rule-taker, not a rule-maker, Mr Davis said.

"The electoral consequences could be dire," he cautioned.

"So it is in both the party's interest, and crucially the national interest, that we reset our negotiating strategy immediately and deliver a Brexit that meets the demands of the referendum and the interests of the British people."

Mr Davis also pushed his own proposal - known as Canada+++ - which would see the UK get more advantageous access to the EU's single market.

But it is unclear how the option would resolve a "hard border" being created between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Tom Brake, the Liberal Democrats Brexit spokesperson, said the letter "highlights the growing panic rippling through the Conservative party that Theresa May's Brexit is going to cause nothing but misery for the country and the Tory party".

Both Britain and the EU are hoping for a deal by the end of autumn.

DUP leader Arlene Foster, who is also propping up the Conservative minority government in Westminster, has headed to Brussels for her own offensive to clinch a deal.