Brexit: Conservative minister says he would be 'happy' to revoke Article 50 to avoid no deal

Mark Field says he would be 'happy' to cancel EU exit to end 'utter paralysis' gripping parliament

A Conservative minister has said it would be better for the UK to cancel Brexit entirely than to leave the EU without a deal.

Mark Field, a Foreign Office minister, said he would vote to revoke Article 50 if MPs are given a free choice over how to proceed if Theresa May's Brexit deal is not approved this week.

The Commons is expected to hold a series of "indicative votes" on Wednesday on various possible Brexit outcomes if, as expected, it fails to pass the proposed withdrawal agreement before then.

Government ministers have suggested that Conservative MPs would be given a free vote, allowing them to support their preferred option rather than having to follow the party whip.

Mr Field said, if this is the case, he would be "happy" to support revoking Article 50 to end the "utter paralysis" over Brexit.

It is the first time a government minister has openly suggested cancelling Brexit.

The Cities of London and Westminster MP said he did not support a second referendum because it would be "very divisive, very uncertain" and that Leave would win again, adding that it would be better to cancel Brexit entirely.

He told the BBC's Westminster Hour: "My personal view is I would be happy to revoke Article 50, but I appreciate that is probably a minority view.

"If we get to this utter paralysis, and I sincerely hope that in the next 48-72 hours we do not, then if that becomes an option, it's an option that I personally would take. I accept it probably would not be a majority view in the House of Commons."

And in a letter to his constituents, seen by HuffPost, Mr Field wrote: "In the event that the withdrawal agreement is once again voted down, I anticipate that parliament will take control of the process and ensure that a no-deal outcome on 29 March is avoided.

"This I would support, and given that parliament has already clearly voted against either a general election or a second referendum (or so-called People's Vote) then the issue of a revocation of Article 50 would come to the fore.

"Frankly in these circumstances there would be few other options. Whilst not firmly committing to supporting this course of action, I believe it to be a more desirable outcome than no deal, a second referendum or a general election (which would achieve little given how internally divided the two main parties are on this issue)."

Ms May is expected to outline her plan for holding indicative votes when her cabinet convenes for an emergency meeting on Monday. The government will reportedly allow the Commons to vote on seven possible Brexit outcomes, including the prime minister's deal, no deal, revoking Article 50, calling a second referendum or negotiating a new deal that would keep the UK closer to the EU.

The proposal is part of a bid to stop MPs passing a backbench amendment, tabled by Conservative former minister Sir Oliver Letwin, that would pave the way for parliament to seize control of Brexit by holding its own indicative votes on Wednesday.

More than 5.3 million people have now signed a petition on the parliament website calling for Article 50 to be revoked, making it by far the biggest ever posted on the site.