Theresa May refuses to say her deal is better than staying in EU, during live radio phone-in

Prime minister dodges question on whether she would resign if MPs voted against the agreement

Theresa May faces public interrogation in live radio phone-in as Brexit negotiations with Europe continue

Theresa May refused to say her Brexit deal was better than staying in the EU when she answered questions from the public on live radio.

The prime minister also dodged a question on whether she would resign if MPs voted against the agreement, but insisted that Brussels would not offer better terms.

She appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live on Friday afternoon a few hours after former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab hit out at the deal, branding it as "even worse than remaining."

EU diplomats are meeting to finalise the draft divorce between Britain and the bloc, with Spain threatening to oppose any deal that does not give it a say on the future of Gibraltar.

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Key Points

• Prime minister dodges question on whether her deal is better than staying in the EU
• Theresa May refuses to say whether she will resign if MP's reject her Brexit deal
• EU will not offer better terms and UK 'will be back at square one', says PM
• Dominic Raab hits out at withdrawal agreement, calling it worse than remaining in EU
• Spain threatens to oppose divorce if denied say on future of Gibraltar

[23 November 2018 10:56 · Joe Sommerlad]

Hello and welcome to The Independent's coverage of the day's Brexit events.

[23 November 2018 11:08 · Joe Sommerlad]

So far today, ex-Brexit minister Dominic Raab has criticised Theresa May's deal on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, saying; "I'm not going to advocate staying in the EU.

"But, if you just presented me terms, this deal or EU membership, because we would effectively be bound by the same rules but without the control or voice over them, yes, I think this would be even worse than that."

[23 November 2018 11:11 · Joe Sommerlad]

Meanwhile, Spain's PM Pedro Sanchez has threatened to oppose the current divorce deal between the UK and Europe, tweeting that Britain and Spain "remain far away" on the issue of Gibraltar and "if there are no changes, we will veto Brexit."

[23 November 2018 11:50 · Peter Stubley]

Dominic Raab claimed that Parliament would "inevitably" vote down Theresa May's deal as he described it as "even worse" than staying in the EU.

[23 November 2018 11:51 · Peter Stubley]

The former Brexit secretary has also rejected the suggestion he will campaign for a second referendum, insisting he will "fight for a better Brexit."

[23 November 2018 11:54 · Peter Stubley]

Arron Banks, the businessman who is believed to have donated £8.4m to the Leave campaign, has also said that it would be better to stay in the EU than approve Theresa May's deal.

He tweeted: "Remain is a better choice than this capitulation.. sadly."

[23 November 2018 12:08 · Peter Stubley]

Theresa May will be taking questions from the public about Brexit on BBC Radio 5 Live in around 20 minutes (12.30pm). What would you like to ask the prime minister?

[23 November 2018 12:31 · Benjamin Kentish]

We're expecting the 5Live phone-in with Theresa May to begin imminently. Stay tuned...

[23 November 2018 12:37 · Benjamin Kentish]

It's put to May that her deal has divided the country. She admits people have had "really passionate arguments" about Brexit but that it is "time for the country to come together". Her deal will help achieve that, she says.

[23 November 2018 12:39 · Benjamin Kentish]

The first caller asks if May thinks she will get her deal through Parliament. 

The prime minister says her job is to persuade people. She says MPs need to remember that people's jobs, education and communities must be at the forefront of their mind when they decide how to vote on the proposed agreement.