Brexit: Theresa May hints she will force MPs to vote multiple times on her deal if she loses

Prime minister also acknowledges MPs could decide what happens next, saying: 'I don’t think anybody can say exactly what will happen in terms of the reaction we’ll see in parliament'

Theresa May has hinted she will force MPs to vote multiple times on her Brexit deal if, as expected, they reject it in a Commons showdown next week.

The prime minister dismissed speculation that she will pull the “meaningful vote” for a second time, because of the scale of the opposition, saying: “We will be holding the vote.”

But she refused – four times – to rule out bringing back the vote “again and again and again”, as the looming threat of a no-deal Brexit, now just weeks away, piles pressure on MPs to back down.

Asked, by the BBC’s Andrew Marr, if she would “bring it back” after a defeat, Ms May said only: “I am working on getting this vote through parliament.

“It is for those who oppose the deal to say what the alternative is and, so far, nobody has put forward an alternative that delivers on all those issues and, crucially, delivers on the referendum result.”

But the prime minister also hinted that MPs could decide what happens next, saying: “We are going to be in uncharted territory. I don’t think anybody can say exactly what will happen in terms of the reaction we’ll see in parliament.”

Strikingly, Ms May appeared unable to point to any significant progress in persuading the EU to give ground on the Irish border backstop, since last month.

She said she was still seeking “further assurances from the EU on the issues raised”, as well as on how to give parliament a stronger role over future trade negotiations.

Last month, when fighting off the vote of no confidence by Tory MPs, the prime minister vowed to secure a new “legally binding” power for the UK to break free of the backstop, if implemented.

But, in the interview, she said the “crucial element” was speeding up a future trade deal, to remove the backstop – designed to avoid border posts and checks in Ireland – quickly.

However, experts have warned trade talks will take many years, while the backstop would be in place from January 2021, unless the transition period is extended as an alternative.

MPs will resume debating the withdrawal agreement on Wednesday, with the vote expected on 15 or 16 January. Ms May said it would be “that sort of timing”.

If the deal is thrown out, Labour will push for a no-confidence vote, to force a general election – but this is also expected to fail, with no sign of Tory or Democratic Unionist Party support.

MPs will resume debating the withdrawal agreement on Wednesday, with the vote expected on 15 or 16 January. Ms May said it would be “that sort of timing”.

If the deal is thrown out, Labour will push for a no-confidence vote, to force a general election – but this is also expected to fail, with no sign of Tory or Democratic Unionist Party support.

Large numbers of Labour MPs, and the other opposition parties, will then push for a Final Say referendum on whether to halt Brexit, but Jeremy Corbyn is opposed.

In that vacuum, with parliament unable to agree on any outcome, Ms May will hope the ticking clock counting down to a no-deal Brexit, on March 29, will force MPs to back her deal eventually.

The prime minister also appeared to reject offering to quit immediately after Brexit, to tempt some rebel Tories to change their minds, saying she would stick to her stance outlined last month.

“One, I am not going to call a snap election, and secondly I am not going to be leading the party in to the 2022 general election,” she said.