Tory MPs in revolt as 170 sign letter demanding that Theresa May rejects long Brexit delay

THERESA May is today facing a Tory revolt after 170 of her MPs signed a letter begging her not to agree a long Brexit delay.

A letter was sent to No10 which was signed by 170 ministers – more than half their whole number – demanding the UK leaves the EU within the next few months.

The letter insists the PM must uphold the Tories’ manifesto commitments on Brexit, meaning there must be no long exit delay and no EU elections fought.

In a serious challenge to her authority, it was also signed by 10 Cabinet ministers and 20 other members of her Government.

Cabinet Ministers from Sajid Javid to Jeremy Hunt are among those believed to have signed the letter.

A source close to the signatories told The Sun: “The letter reaffirmed our commitment to the manifesto, and to the PMs own determination to seek a short extension to article 50 that avoids the EU elections.”

One Brexiteer minister who signed it said: “Two thirds of the parliamentary party have sent the PM a very clear message. We want to leave the EU on April 12 or very soon afterwards.

“The nuclear option that she must now consider is to bring back her deal, with a confidence motion attached to it.

If it is voted down again, then we will vote to dissolve Parliament and have a general election

Brexiteer minister

“If it is voted down again, then we will vote to dissolve Parliament and have a general election.”

Meanwhile, it has now emerged that Brexit’s fate will be decided by an extraordinary X Factory-style vote next week.

MPs will now have to choose between Mrs May’s deal, a soft Brexit and a second referendum.

Instead of dumping her EU agreement, No10 revealed the PM will instead try to bring it back a fourth time next week.

But that can only now happen after a new round of indicative votes for a range of alternative routes out of Parliament’s humiliating crisis.

Rebels MPs will again commandeer Parliament’s time on Monday for a second round of voting after last Wednesday’s attempt ended in failure with none of the eight options winning a majority.

But this time, Speaker John Bercow is expected to rule out the options with that attracted the lowest number of votes, such as a No Deal Brexit  – most likely leaving the choice between a customs union with the EU, Norway-style EEA membership and a second referendum.

Mrs May is expected to wait until the options are narrowed down to just one, when she will then pit her divorce deal against it.

A senior No10 source said: “Monday will be an opportunity to set some direction. The PM’s deal got 286 votes today, which was more than anything else did on Wednesday.”