One of Theresa May’s ministers has threatened to vote against the government if it fails to rule out a no-deal Brexit.
Tobias Ellwood, a defence minister, said no deal would be catastrophic for Britain and that the option needed to be taken off the table “very soon indeed”.
Ellwood said he hoped it would not happen but he would vote against his government if it did not either win support for a withdrawal deal or allow a free vote on the issue.
He told BBC 5 Live’s Pienaar’s Politics: “Yes, I will intend to do that. I hope that I will not be tested in that way.
“I hope we will either get the meaningful vote through or indeed measures are taken that would then allow people like myself to express those through a free vote.”
Ellwood is the first minister to make that pledge publicly but there are believed to be a number of cabinet ministers who would also potentially consider their positions to stop a no-deal Brexit.
The prime minister previously avoided a rebellion of ministers over an amendment from the Labour MP Yvette Cooper, which would have delayed Brexit rather than leave with no deal. Those thinking of resigning believed she should have more time to achieve a withdrawal agreement that satisfies parliament.
However, May could face a more serious revolt the next time such a proposal is put to the House of Commons.
A number of business leaders warned against no deal over the weekend. Carolyn Fairbairn, the director general of the Confederation of British Industry, said Britain risked “slipping into an economic crisis” unless MPs stop the UK leaving without a deal.
Katherine Bennett, a senior vice-president of the aerospace company Airbus, said no deal would be “absolutely catastrophic” and future investment in the UK could be under threat.