Adam Payne

LONDON — Theresa May is set to make a crucial decision on whether to delay the House of Commons vote on her Brexit deal as the prime minister faces a massive defeat which could endanger her job.

Downing Street will decide on Monday whether to go ahead with the so-called "meaningful vote" on Tuesday evening, according to multiple reports, with over 100 Conservative MPs and almost all Labour MPs expected to vote against the deal.

There is widespread confusion among the prime minister's allies and foes about whether the vote will go ahead on Tuesday as planned, <a id="e9d029dd-40de-380d-a5f0-ab6c62c858e2" href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/brexit/7938873/theresa-may-last-ditch-eu-phone-call-vote/?utm_source=POLITICO.EU&amp;utm_campaign=22758dbb79-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_12_10_06_36&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_10959edeb5-22758dbb79-190121793"> with senior government figures rating the chances 50/50. </a>

The prime minister has up to now been adamant that the vote on her controversial deal will go ahead as planned despite a growing number of MPs publicly announcing their intention to vote against it.

However, as things stand, over 100 of May's own Tory MPs are set to vote against the Withdrawal Agreement while Labour is confident that the vast majority of its own MPs will do the same. The Democratic Unioniost Party which props up the Conservative government, is alos planning to vote down the deal.

The prime minister is considering going back to Brussels and asking for changes to the deal which could win around MPs back in Westminster. May had phone calls with European Commission President Donald Tusk and Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on Sunday evening ahead of a defining week for both Brexit and her leadership.

However, there is little propspect that the EU will make the sort of concessions May needs to satisfy MPs before the vote.

"I can't see much appetite here unless her [May's] red lines are changed. No deal planning will be stepped up," a senior source in Brussels told Business Insider on Monday morning.

A number of pro-Brexit MPs have said they will not support the deal unless the backstop for avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland is changed to give the UK the right to leave the arrangement unilaterally.

The EU has said that it will not make major concessions on the backstop, meaning a slight a change of wording to the Political Declaration on the future UK-EU relationship might be the best May can realistically hope for.

<h1> Heavyweight Conservatives prepare for leadership contest </h1>

Home Secretary Sajid Javid has reportedly been asking Tory MPs to support his leadership bid. "Sajid is tapping us up. He is very direct," <a id="0cc74f31-8593-39d4-ae9c-9f2b10b26394" href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/brexit/7938668/sajid-javid-will-launch-leadership-contest/?utm_source=POLITICO.EU&amp;utm_campaign=22758dbb79-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_12_10_06_36&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_10959edeb5-22758dbb79-190121793"> one Cabinet minister told The Sun </a> . Another senior Conservative MP added: "[Javid] told me that Theresa’s Brexit deal is s***, she’ll be forced out when it falls, and he is then going to declare immediately."

Javid is set to host a drinks reception in Westminster this month with House of Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom. A friend of Leadsom told BI that a Javid-Leadsom leadership team would be a "dream ticket" for Conservative MPs, as Javid's pro-Brexit credentials would be boosted by having a lead Leave campaigner on his team.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, his predecessor Boris Johnson, and ex-Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab are also all considering leadership bids, according to multiple reports over recent days.

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Theresa May under pressure to delay Brexit vote as leadership rivals circle

Under the plan pushed by MPs like Conservative Nick Boles and Labour's Stephen Kinnock — which is reportedly backed by several leading Cabinet remainers — the UK would copy Norway's relationship with the EU after Brexit, either for temporarily until new free trade agreement with the EU is ready, or a permanent basis.

There is a growing belief that something like the Norway model would win a majority of MPs over and break the impasse in Parliament. Here's what the Norway model would actually mean in practice.

The Norway model includes two key European organisations: The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and European Economic Area (EEA). Norway, along with Lichtenstein and Iceland, is a member of both.

EFTA is made up of the aforementioned three countries, plus Switzerland. They trade between themselves while the group as a whole has free trade deals with numerous non-EU countries, Canada, Mexico and others.

The EEA, on the other hand, is a collaboration of all EU member states plus three EFTA states: Norway, Lichtenstein, and Iceland. All EEA members — including the EFTA countries — enjoy full access to the European single market.

EEA membership is only available to either EU or EFTA member states.So, under a Norway-style Brexit, Britain would leave the EU, join EFTA, and then become the 31st full member of the EEA.

<h1> What are the pros of the Norway-style Brexit? </h1>

Being in EFTA-EEA would allow the UK to retain full access to the single market. This would mean reduced barriers to UK-EU trade and continued single market treatment for services, which account for around 80% of the UK economy.

Most research suggests this would be the least damaging form of Brexit. <a id="e1597b43-becd-3fdf-a110-c89aa4f9242a" href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/theresa-may-is-going-to-publish-the-leaked-brexit-impact-paper-2018-1?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> The government's own impact assessment found </a> the Norway option would be the least damaging option in terms of economic harm.

And although Britain would retain full single market access, it wouldn't be forced to sign up to some of the EU's more contentious policies. It wouldn't be required to join the EU's Common Fisheries Policy, for example, which is strongly opposed by Brexiteers, particularly in Conservative MPs in Scotland. It would also be exempt from the Common Agricultural Policy. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) would also have no jurisdiction over Britain.

Although the UK would finally be free of the ECJ, it would have to answer to the EFTA court, which for most Brexiteers would merely represent another set of unaccountable, interfering foreign judges.

Then there's the issue of Britain's influence as an EFTA/EEA country. Under the Norway model, Britain would have full access to the single market but have much less say in shaping its rules than it does now as an EU member. Norway does not formally participate in Brussels decision-making <a id="88859ca5-744d-341a-a1af-db1e5eacd245" href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/oct/27/norway-eu-reality-uk-voters-seduced-by-norwegian-model"> but has incorporated around 75% of EU law into its national legislation </a> .

The elephant in the room here is immigration. The public's desire to control immigration was arguably the biggest driving force for Brexit, and the UK government has vowed to end the free movement of EU citizens.

EEA members are required to accept the four freedoms, including the free movement of people. Clearly, this would be politically dangerous for any government. There is one way around that. It's unrealistic — but theoretically possible.

Article 112 of the EEA Agreement allows non-EU member states to opt out of the four freedoms if they are facing serious economic, societal or environmental strain. For example, Lichtenstein used Article 112 to impose controls on the free movement of people, due to concerns over whether a landlocked country of such modest size and resources could cope with big influxes of people. Obviously, Britain is very different from Lichtenstein, and would likely have a much tougher time arguing for an immigration opt-out.

<h1> What would it mean for the Irish border? </h1>

Perhaps the strongest case for a Norway-style Brexit is that it would go some way to resolving the Irish border dilemma. By remaining fully aligned with EU market rules, Britain would avoid a plethora of non-tariff barriers which would otherwise emerge on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.

However, a Norway-style relationship wouldn't provide the whole solution for avoiding physical infrastructure on the island of Ireland. In order to also eliminate tariff barriers, Britain would need to be in either the current or a new customs union with the EU after Brexit. Norway is not in a customs union with the EU.

<h1> So how likely is a Norway-style Brexit? </h1>

Earlier this year, the Brexit committee led by Labour's Hilary Benn <a id="b94fe52b-2769-3954-a5e0-010a30eec334" href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/brexit-select-committee-tell-theresa-may-to-use-soft-brexit-as-the-backstop-option-if-negotiations-fail-2018-4?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> published a report </a> calling for May to use the Norway option has her official backup if she fails to meet key negotiating goals in Brexit talks with the EU.

The idea has gathered momentum in recent weeks as MPs look for alternatives to May's Brexit deal which is almost certain to be be voted down by MPs. The EU has always said the Norway option is available to the UK.

However, there are some practical problems.

Firstly, although EFTA/EEA countries <a id="fc844bc0-aa47-37b6-a234-9a7b19ee0f40" href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/brexit-select-committee-tell-theresa-may-to-use-soft-brexit-as-the-backstop-option-if-negotiations-fail-2018-4?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> are generally open </a> to the idea of Britain becoming a permanent member of the club, whether they'd accept temporary membership is a different question.

Prime Minister Solberg appeared to kill hopes of temporary UK membership in November.

"We would welcome any good cooperation with Britain. But to enter into an organisation which you’re leaving is a little bit difficult for the rest of us," she said.

Even if Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein did grant a temporary stay,it could take up to twelve months for Britain to complete the joining process, while exit day is just months away at the time of writing.

On top of that is the issue of customs. For a Norway-style model to solve the Irish border problem, it would need to come with a customs union add-on. However, EFTA countries have together signed trade deals with other countries which include customs arrangements. The UK would need to sign up to those, making a customs arrangement with the EU very difficult if not impossible.

Then we have the question of Westminster politics. Would May be able to sell continued acceptance of EU rules and the free movement of MPs to pro-Brexit MPs? At the moment is looks unlikely, but with British politics in such a volatile environment, anything could happen.

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LONDON — As Theresa May prepares for her Brexit deal to be defeated in the House of Commons, the suggestion that the prime minister should instead seek a "plan B" of replicating Norway's relationship with the EU has resurfaced.

The Norway model is back on the Brexit agenda — here's what that means

LONDON — Conservative member of parliament Sam Gyimah is set declare his support for a second referendum on Brexit (also called a "People's Vote") after quitting Theresa May's government on Friday evening, multiple sources have told Business Insider.

Gyimah quit as universities and science minister on Friday in protest of the prime minister's Brexit deal with Brussels, <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/11/30/tory-minister-sam-gyimah-resigns-protest-theresa-mays-withdrawal/" id="a56aad9f-9900-32c7-a9f8-b3c560dd9a31"> branding the Withdrawal Agreement </a> "naive," "EU first," and "not in the British national interest."

"Britain will end up worse off, transformed from rule makers into rule takers. It is a democratic deficit and a loss of sovereignty," Gyimah said, after becoming the seventh minister to resign over the divorce deal.

Gyimah is set to follow ex-transport minister Jo Johnson in backing the campaign for a "People's Vote," a referendum on the outcome of negotiations, according to multiple senior anti-Brexit campaigners.

Earlier this month, asenior source in the People's Vote campaign <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/theresa-may-piling-pressure-on-pro-brexit-conservative-mps-erg-predict-ousted-within-weeks-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest" id="203ea2a3-01e8-340b-a78a-1ddc22ece185"> told Business Insider </a> that up to three conservative MPs would declare support for another referendum in November, with Johnson being the first.

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/204388219715107/posts/1170464863107433/" id="ae6dbdae-be2f-3f66-a10c-8ff412cfdd07"> In a statement published on Friday </a> , the MP for East Surrey hinted at support for another referendum.

"We shouldn’t dismiss out of hand the idea of asking the people again what future they want, as we all now have a better understanding of the potential paths before us," he wrote.

BI understands that he will soon publicly declare his support for another Brexit referendum, piling more pressure on May as she faces the prospect of a landslide defeat in the parliamentary vote on her deal next week.

Gyimah — who was first elected to Parliament in 2010 — offered a scathing assessment of the deal May has negotiated with the EU in his statement. In it, he said the UK "will end up worse off, transformed from rule makers into rule takers" and be left with "a democratic deficit and a loss of sovereignty the public will rightly never accept."

The outgoing minister also accused May of ruling out red lines "that need to be considered seriously," such as extending the Article 50 negotiating process, as well as holding another referendum.

Justine Greening — ex-education secretary and People's Vote supporter — said her colleague's decision reiterated the "huge shortcomings" of May's deal and "the need to find an alternative path forward for Britain."

"His comments on the second referendum simply reflect the real choice confronting many MPs. He recognises trusting the people may be, in the end, the only way to break the gridlock in Parliament," she said.

Alex Sobel MP, a member of pro-second-referendum group Best for Britain, subsequently confirmed Gyimah's support. In an emailed statement, he said: "I look forward to Sam Gyimah joining the campaign for a vote on the final Brexit deal. We have the momentum in our campaign. "If Theresa May cannot persuade her own ministers in her deal she can’t really believe that she has a chance when it comes before Parliament. The Government must now extend the article 50 process and present something to Parliament that we can vote for. If she can’t do that then she must make way for a Government who can or go back to the British people and let them decide."

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LONDON — Theresa May faces a bigger than expected defeat on her Brexit deal with the potential to threaten her leadership, with the number of MPs set to vote for her deal in nine days time looking smaller by the day.

The prime minister has spent the last week touring the United Kingdom in an attempt to get the British public behind her Brexit Withdrawal Agreement and encourage them to tell their MPs to vote for it on Tuesday, December 11.

However, rather than warm to the deal, a growing number MPs from all sides are lining up to lambast it. <a href="https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2018/11/our-estimate-of-how-many-conservative-mps-oppose-the-brexit-deal-not-100-but-64.html" id="d9146c51-1133-32ae-ac9f-de542d2abc93"> ConservativeHome estimated on Friday </a> that she could lose the "meaningful vote" by a margin of up to 180 MPs.

Pro-Brexit MPs, already irked by the divorce package, are set to be outraged again this week, this time by leaked legal advice which confirms that the UK could be trapped in a customs union with the EU indefinitely after Brexit.

Secret legal advice given to May's government and <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/revealed-brexit-legal-advice-could-sink-theresa-may-r9wmh0v89" id="4c7ba305-6bb7-30bc-aee1-2a810787d68d"> leaked to The Times </a> says that under the agreed backstop proposal for avoiding a hard Irish border, the UK would be wedded to EU customs rules for years after Brexit, with years of further negotiation needed before it has a chance of breaking away.

In this scenario — which will come into effect if a sufficient new UK-EU trading relationship isn't in ready by the end of the transition period — the UK would have a reduced ability to sign new trade deals and Northern Ireland would be in parts of the single market, creating controversial new checks between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

This potential outcome is loathed by Brexiteers and the Democratic Unionist Party which props up the government.

The prime minister has so far refused to give MPs the full legal advice, with one source in her Cabinet telling The Times: "The legal advice is very bad, which is why they don’t want anyone to see it."

In the meantime, pro-EU Conservative MPs mobilising amid growing calls for another Brexit referendum.

On Friday night, Sam Gyimah quit as May's science and universities minister in protest against the prime minister's "naive" Brexit deal. The UK would be "worse off, transformed from rule makers into rule takers," he said.

<a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/sam-gyimah-quits-theresa-may-government-set-to-back-peoples-vote-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest" id="57b4dab2-9afd-38f7-a445-448b358cea96"> Business Insider revealed </a> that Gyimah will be the next Tory MP to officially back the People's Vote campaign for another referendum, joining Jo Johnson who also quit government to back the campaign this month.

The government is braced for more pro-EU MPs to quit, <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6450529/Nine-days-save-Brexit-Theresa-promises-fight-tirelessly-momentous-build-vote.html" id="af6dca24-977b-3a8a-ad1d-5c91ef2b7d7b"> the Mail On Sunday reports </a> , with Business Secretary Greg Clark, Lord Chancellor David Gauke and minister Margot James spotted with Gyimah and Johnson this week.

James has since denied she is planning to resign but senior People's Vote campaigners are confident of signing up more Conservative MPs as the March 2019 deadline for leaving the European Union approaches.

MPs will begin a five-day debate on May's Brexit deal on Tuesday before voting on it the following week.

Shadow Brexit Secretary, Labour MP Keir Starmer, told Sky News on Sunday it is "inevitable" that Labour would move a no confidence motion in the government if May's Brexit deal is voted down on December 11.

"There has to be a question of confidence in the government... I think it is inevitable we will move that," Starmer said.

May dodged questions about her own future when quizzed by journalists in Argentina on Saturday.

"There is a lot more for me still to do, not least delivering on Brexit and being the prime minster that does take the United Kingdom out of the European Union," <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/dec/01/theresa-may-insists-she-will-be-the-leader-to-take-uk-out-of-the-eu" id="4d5762b0-8e7a-3029-ae21-887547ad130b"> she told reporters at the G20 summit </a> , adding that she'd be "talking with members of parliament obviously and explaining to them why this is a good deal for the UK."

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Theresa May has 9 days to avoid an enormous defeat on her Brexit deal

LONDON — A snap general election could be on its way after the Democratic Unionist Party, which props up Theresa May's government, threatened to trigger a general election in order to kill her Brexit divorce deal.

Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer <a id="892d19d6-7f92-3d28-a9e7-6eed7e8a64d5" href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/mps-round-up-on-theresa-may-brexit-deal-ahead-meaningful-vote-leaked-legal-advice-backstop-2018-12?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> told Sky News on Sunday </a> it was "inevitable" that Labour would move a no confidence motion in May's government if MPs vote down her deal on Tuesday, December 11.

Now the DUP is preparing to withdraw its support for the prime minister in such a vote if, as expected, MPs vote to reject her Brexit deal next week, <a id="e28ec805-00e0-3d51-ae2a-0759f433c7a0" href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/dup-threat-to-abandon-support-for-theresa-may-in-vote-l8vkfgcfs"> according to The Times </a> .

In this scenario, May would be without the thin parliamentary advantage she's had since the 2017 general election and at risk of a majority of MPs voting to get rid of her. For the DUP, Jeremy Corbyn's Labour winning a possible subsequent election is more palatable than the deal which May has agreed with the EU, the report suggests.

The DUP loathes the Withdrawal Agreement because under the backstop proposal for avoiding a hard Irish border, Northern Ireland would stick to parts of the single market, creating new border checks with rest of the UK.

The party, that has 10 MPs in Westminster, has already abstained on a number of parliamentary votes in recent weeks in a warning to the prime minister that they are not bluffing about their threats to abandon her.

On Tuesday, a five-day debate on her Brexit deal will get underway prior to the meaningful vote next week. MPs from all sides are set to chastise her deal with some estimates suggesting a landslide defeat of over 100 MPs.

Today the prime minister will resume her efforts to sell the deal, telling MPs about her visit to the G20 summit in Argentina over the weekend and the free trade deals the UK will be able to sign around the world after Brexit.

"For the first time in more than 40 years we will have an independent trade policy," she will tell MPs.

Exactly how "independent" the UK's trade policy will be after Brexit is just one of the concerns among pro-Brexit MPs. Under the backstop, the UK will be in a customs union with the EU, meaning its trading ability will be limited.

Attorney General Geoffrey Cox will today reveal to MPs at least some of the legal advice he has given to the government about the controversial backstop policy, including what it would mean for the UK's trade policy.

MPs are particularly concerned about the backstop element of May's deal because it would keep the UK in a customs union with the EU after Brexit indefinitely, with no fixed end date or unilateral right to get out of it.

However, Cox is not set to disclose his legal advice in full, <a id="8a7f5aa3-ff27-38f5-a53a-dbbb1a622a38" href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/nov/13/tory-mps-to-abstain-in-vote-on-publishing-brexit-legal-advice"> despite the government seemingly agreeing to do so last month </a> . Labour has threatened to join forces with other opposition parties, including the DUP, and write to Commons Speaker John Bercow accusing the government of contempt of Parliament if it doesn't publish the advice in full.

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DON'T MISS: Theresa May has 9 days to avoid an enormous defeat on her Brexit deal

A general election could be on the way after DUP threatens to bring down Theresa May

LONDON — A cross-party group of MPs have launched a bid to give the House of Commons the power to decide what action the UK government should take if Theresa May's Brexit deal cannot get through Parliament.

Labour MP Hilary Benn is the lead signatory on an amendment to the meaningful vote which if passed would give MPs control over the next steps in the Brexit process should May's Brexit deal with the EU fail to win support.

In practice, it means that should Parliament refuse to accept the prime minister's deal, MPs could instruct her to extend negotiations, hold another referendum, or pursue a different sort of Brexit like a softer, Norway-style exit.

The amendment — backed by MPs like Labour's Yvette Cooper and Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston — could determine the outcome of Brexit with MPs almost certain to vote down May's deal on December 11.

As of Friday morning, 100 Conservative MPs have said they will not support the prime minister's deal. Neither will the DUP which props up May's government or a vast majority of MPs in Labour and the other opposition parties.

Despite the prospect of a landslide defeat, May is currently refusing to budge on her Brexit deal with the EU.

Travelling to Argentina on Friday, she told journalists that she would not switch to Labour's policy of a permanent customs union with the EU, claiming: "I’ve been very clear about my position, we won’t be in the customs union."

She also refused to discuss the possible options if her deal is unable to get through Parliament.

"It has always been said we wouldn’t get to this position of having a deal. Now we’ve got to the position of having a deal, all you seem to want to be asking about is the next stage," the prime minister said.

May also refused to discuss what will happen if her Brexit deal is voted down during <a id="57c00591-2477-337b-a12b-13d49538181e" href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/theresa-may-liaison-committee-brexit-live-blog-11-2018/?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest#0911-am-may-dodges-questions-on-brexit-alternatives-7"> a forensic question and answer session with senior MPs on Thursday </a> , repeatedly insisting: "I am focused on the meaningful vote."

Labour's Shadow Brexit Secretary, Sir Keir Starmer, has tabled an amendment of his own which seeks to guarantee that Britain won't leave the EU without a deal no matter what happens in the upcoming vote on May's deal.

The prime minister has been boosted by pro-Brexit members of the Cabinet like Liam Fox who have agreed to stay in government and support her deal despite concerns about the details of the agreement.

Trade Secretary Fox will today use a speech in Bristol, southwest England to encourage Conservative MPs to get behind May and her controversial deal. He is set to say: "In politics, we cannot always have the luxury of doing what we want for ourselves — but we have an abiding duty to do what is right for our country."

He is set to add: "The deal we’ve reached will give us a firm and stable base on which to leave the EU and build this country’s global future... Now is the time to set aside our differences."

Andrea Leadsom, another leading government Brexiteer, still has significant reservations with the deal — specifically the backstop for avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland — allies of the MP have told Business Insider.

However, she is set to vote for the deal next week, as Environment Secretary Michael Gove and International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt, who have both been tipped to quit a government over May's deal.

<ul><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/lib-dems-preparing-for-a-snap-election-when-mays-brexit-deal-falls-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">The Lib Dems are preparing for a snap general election if May's Brexit deal falls</a> </li><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/theresa-may-to-sign-brexit-deal-with-eu-leader-summit-as-cabinet-plot-to-rip-up-her-agreement-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">Theresa May signs Brexit deal with EU leaders as her Cabinet plots to rip up her agreement</a> </li><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-eu-has-agreed-to-theresa-may-brexit-deal-summit-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">The EU has agreed to Theresa May's Brexit deal</a> </li></ul>

SEE ALSO: The UK government admits Brexit will inevitably leave Britain poorer

Pro-EU MPs plot amendment to take over Brexit talks as Theresa May refuses to back down

Business Insider followed proceedings live as the prime minister took questions from <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/liaison-committee/membership/" id="56c5f4de-f687-313f-a492-830da82322ad"> a super-committee of 35 MPs </a> who each chair their own separate Commons committees. The MPs represent parties across the House of Commons and include both staunch Brexiteers and passionate Remainers.

Home Office Committee Chair Yvette Cooper, who has been a thorn in the side of the government's Brexit plans, is on the committee. As are leading pro-EU MPs Brexit Committee Chair Hilary Benn, Treasury Committee Chair Nicky Morgan, and Sarah Wollaston, the pro-second referendum MP who chairs the liaison committee.

Arch Brexiteers PAC Committee Chair Bernard Jenkin and European Security Committee Chair Bill Cash also put questions to May. The prime minister faced barbed questions from all sides of the Brexit debate.

Scroll down to find the latest developments. All times are in GMT.

<h1> 10:30 AM — Another referendum needs Article 50 extension, May says </h1>

Theresa May tells Liaison Committee Chair Sarah Wollaston that a new referendum, which she opposes, would require an extension to the Article 50 negotiating process.

"Any second referendum, should that be the case, would not be able to held before March 2019... We’d need to extend Article 50," the prime minister said.

She also said that extending Article 50 and holding another referendum would "reopen negotiations" on the Brexit deal, despite her previous claim — and that of the EU — that the deal on the table is the only deal available...

<h1> 10:13 AM — MPs might not see immigration plans before Brexit vote, May says </h1>

In more serious matters, the prime minister has just refused to confirm that the white paper on post-Brexit immigration will be published before MPs vote on the Brexit deal on December 11.

In a response to a question from Lib Dem MP Norman Lamb, May said: "We are still in discussion as to the date as to when the immigration white paper will be published."

<h1> 10:10 AM — "Friends with benefits?" </h1>

Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat gets the first laugh of the liaison committee hearing. He asks May whether the EU will be the UK's "friends with benefits" after Brexit.

Sadly, the prime minister didn't hear Tugendhat's quip. Here's a clip.

<h1> 09:51 AM — Yvette Cooper tells May: You'd never accept no deal </h1>

Home Affairs Select Committee Yvette Cooper, renowned for her forensic questioning, tells the prime minister that she "isn't being straight with people" about the reality of Brexit.

"Here's your problem. You're saying to some people that we are going to get frictionless trade and something close to Norway, and you're saying to others that you're going to get something close to a Canada-style trade deal. And in your head you're resting on max fac which has already been rejected. You're not being straight with people," the Labour MP said.

Cooper suggests that May would never actually accept a no deal Brexit, despite her claims that it would be better than a bad deal.

"Knowing you for 20 years, I don’t believe you are the kind of person who can contemplate no deal, I think you’d take action to avert it. Am I wrong in my judgement of you?"

<h1> 09:35 AM —May accused of "obsession with immigration" </h1>

The SNP's Pete Wishart accuses Theresa May of sacrificing the rights of young British people in order to fulfil her vision of a much more restrictive immigration policy.

"Isn't it the case, that the rights you &amp; I had to live, work and love across a continent of 28 nations is going to be deprived to our young people because of your obsession with with immigration?" Wishart asked May.

The prime minister said "no" and explained that under her plans, young British people will continue to have access to the EU through schemes like the Erasmus Programme for students.

<h1> 09:20 AM — May and Labour MP Rachel Reeves clash over economic impact of her deal </h1>

Rachel Reeves, Chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee, has a frosty exchange with the prime minister on the economic impact of her Brexit deal.

Reeves asks May to confirm that <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/the-uk-government-admits-brexit-will-inevitably-leave-britain-poorer-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest" id="ee2fb4ef-2e2d-3674-a7f3-0d887001badd"> government analysis published on Wednesday </a> says the UK will be poorer under every possible form of Brexit.

The prime minister doesn't accept this. She tells Reeves: "What the analysis shows is there will be an impact on the rate of growth. But there are many variables that will change. It doesn’t deal with all the decisions that the government might take."

On the UK's future relationship with the EU, May says that EU member states are yet to be convinced that the UK can continue to have frictionless trade with the EU after Brexit.

Reeves replied: "I think the EU is in favour of frictionless trade. That's why we are in the single market and customs union, prime minister."

<h1> 09:11 AM — May dodges questions on Brexit alternatives </h1>

Brexit Committee Chair Hilary Benn is the first MP to quiz May on her Brexit deal.

The Labour MP asks May whether her government is drawing up contingency plans in case her deal is voted down on December 11, such as extending the Article 50 process, or staying in the single market via the European Economic Area (aka "The Norway Model.")

The prime minister refuses to say whether such planning is taking place. She repeats "I am focused on the meaningful vote" on her deal, much to Benn's visible frustration.

"I think we get that prime minister," he replies.

<h1> 09:00 AM — The Liaison Committee gets underway </h1>

Conservative MP and Liaison Committee Chair Sarah Wollaston has got us underway in Westminster. Theresa May will take questions from 35 MPs.

<ul><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/theresa-may-to-sign-brexit-deal-with-eu-leader-summit-as-cabinet-plot-to-rip-up-her-agreement-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">Theresa May signs Brexit deal with EU leaders as her Cabinet plots to rip up her agreement</a> </li><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-eu-has-agreed-to-theresa-may-brexit-deal-summit-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">The EU has agreed to Theresa May's Brexit deal</a> </li><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/lib-dems-preparing-for-a-snap-election-when-mays-brexit-deal-falls-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">The Lib Dems are preparing for a snap general election if May's Brexit deal falls</a> </li></ul>

LONDON — Theresa May was grilled on her performance as prime minister and her controversial Brexit deal on Thursday morning as she appeared before senior MPs on the House of Commons Liaison Committee.

LIVE: Theresa May grilled by senior MPs on her Brexit deal

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