Conservative minister urges Theresa May to rule out 'absolute disaster' of no-deal scenario

'I’ve seen what may well happen with this cut off-date, crashing out in my view - is an absolute disaster'

Conservative minister Richard Harrington has urged Theresa May to rule out a no-deal Brexit, as the prime minister prepares to outline her alternative plans to parliament.

The business minister, who repeated his threat to resign should the government oversee such a scenario, said he was “afraid” firms such as Jaguar and Mini could close in the UK under the “absolute disaster” of a disorderly exit.

Mr Harrington echoed demands made by Jeremy Corbyn, who has insisted in recent days the prime minister must take no deal off the table before engaging in cross-party talks over Brexit.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Harrington said: “I’ve seen what may well happen with this cut off-date, crashing out in my view - is an absolute disaster - it’s not a road to a free trade agreement, it’s not a road to anything.

“It’s an absolute disaster for the country and it’s supported by a minority of people,” he added.

Urging a fresh approach, he said: “She [Ms May] should in my view says ‘we are responsible people, we’re going to do our duty to business, and we’re going to rule out a no deal because we want a great deal.”

It comes as Ms May is set to outline her revised plans to parliament later today after her deal faced a historic defeat in the chamber last week, forcing her to return with a plan B.

She will also table a "neutral" motion to be debated and voted on - along with any amendments tabled by MPs - on January 29.

According to reports, the prime minister told cabinet ministers during a Sunday conference call she was preparing to press for changes to the Northern Ireland backstop in the hope of winning round the support of Conservative Brexiteers and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).

The plan, which appears remarkably similar to her previous plan after delaying the "meaningful vote" in December, follows the impasse between parties over Brexit talks.

The Daily Telegraph reported the prime minister was even considering an attempt to amend the Good Friday Agreement, but a Downing Street source told The Independent the claim was “nonsense”.

Labour former Cabinet minister Yvette Cooper, who is seeking time for a Bill to suspend the Article 50 withdrawal process if there is no new deal with Brussels by the end of February, suggested she thought the prime minister hoped Parliament would rule out no deal.

She told the BBC: "I think she [Ms May] knows that she should rule out no deal in the national interest because it would be so damaging. She's refusing to do so and I think she's hoping that Parliament will do this for her. That is not leadership."

Earlier, Mr Corbyn accused ministers of wasting £171,000 an hour of taxpayers' money in "unnecessary" preparations for a no-deal Brexit.

The Labour leader reaffirmed his refusal to meet Theresa May to discuss a way forward unless she is prepared to rule out a no-deal break.

Labour said that over the last two Budgets, Chancellor Philip Hammond had assigned £4.2bn to no-deal preparations - money which could have been used to support public services.

Of that, the party said £1.5bn was being spent in the current financial year - the equivalent of £171,000 an hour.

"We're ready to talk to the Government and others in Parliament about a sensible alternative plan, but not while Theresa May is wasting £171,000 an hour of taxpayers' money on dangerous and unnecessary no-deal brinkmanship," Mr Corbyn said.

"May's no-deal threat is empty and hugely expensive, wasting billions of pounds we should be spending on vital public services.

"If the Prime Minister is serious about finding a solution that can command support in Parliament and bring our country together, she must listen to the majority of MPs, as well as members of her own Cabinet, and take no deal off the table."

A Government spokesman said: "A responsible Government must plan for every eventuality, including a no-deal scenario.

"We are intensifying and accelerating no-deal planning to ensure we are fully prepared."

PA contributed to this report