A cabinet minister last night said it would be worth splitting the Tory party to get Brexit passed.
Rory Stewart, who was promoted to International Development Secretary last week, suggested that the Conservatives should accept 'short-term pain' in order to settle the issue.
Theresa May is thought to be on the brink of offering significant concessions to Labour to win backing for her plan – including offering some form of customs union.
Rory Stewart, the new International Development Secretary, said the Conservatives should accept 'short-term pain' to settle Brexit
But her Tory critics yesterday warned the party would face a tidal wave of anger from voters if she 'diluted' Brexit.
It has been reported that as few as 90 Conservative MPs would support an agreement with Jeremy Corbyn.
Mr Stewart said cross-party cooperation was the only way to secure a parliamentary majority because of the resistance of some Tory MPs.
Asked about the potential for a split, he told the BBC: 'This is the most tortuous, torrid, painful time in British politics since the Second World War.
'I think to get Brexit done, and to move this country on, is worth an enormous amount, and we may have to take some short-term pain to do that.'
He also suggested that Mrs May should aim for a 30-year cross-party agreement rather than one that could be overturned at the next election.
Theresa May is thought to be on the brink of offering significant concessions to Labour to win backing for her Brexit plan
It has been reported that as few as 90 Conservative MPs would support an agreement with Jeremy Corbyn
Mrs May yesterday tried to soothe the nerves of those in her party who fear she is about to sign up to a softer Brexit.
TUESDAY Talks set to resume between Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn in a bid to reach a Brexit deal.
On the same day, Sir Graham Brady – chairman of the Tories' 1922 Committee – is expected to meet the Prime Minister and urge her to set a date for her own departure.
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THURSDAY, MAY 23 European elections to take place in the UK, barring a (seemingly impossible) swift deal.
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TUESDAY, JULY 2 Members of European Parliament take their seats. Mrs May hopes the UK will have finally left the EU by then...
In an article for the Mail on Sunday, she wrote: 'If we are able to negotiate a cross-party agreement, this deal will be a stepping stone to a brighter future, outside the EU, where the UK can determine the road ahead. This is because no Parliament can bind its successor.
'Some people would prefer a less close relationship with the EU in the future, while others would prefer a closer relationship.
'The key point is, the ultimate decision-maker in everything we do is parliament. So future parliaments, with a different party balance, will be able to decide whether they want a closer or more distant relationship with the EU.'
Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell yesterday signalled that his party was prepared to demand more concessions in return for agreeing to support the EU withdrawal agreement.
He hinted again that the party would demand a second referendum, telling the BBC: 'The Conservatives have to recognise that if a deal is going to go through there might be a large number of MPs who will want a public vote.'
He also voiced concerns that any agreement could be ripped by Mrs May's successor.
'In the wings, if you like, are all the leadership candidates virtually threatening to tear up whatever deal that we do,' he said.
Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has hinted Labour will demand a second referendum
'So we're dealing with a very unstable Government and let me just use this analogy: it's trying to enter into a contract with a company that's going into administration and the people who are going to take over are not willing to fulfil that contract. We can't negotiate like that.'
Mr McDonnell said he had no trust in Mrs May after details of the talks appeared to have been briefed to Sunday newspapers.
He said: 'We have maintained confidentiality as that is what we were asked to do. We haven't briefed the media. So it is disappointing the prime minister has broken that, and I think it is an act of bad faith. I fully understand now why she couldn't negotiate a decent deal with our European partners if she behaves in this way.'
The 'big, bold' offer to Labour, when talks between the two sides resume on Tuesday, will reportedly centre on a comprehensive but temporary customs arrangement with the EU; alignment with many single-market regulations on goods; and an offer to enshrine in law dynamic alignment with EU legislation on workers' rights.
Yesterday, Tory Eurosceptics lined up to warn the Prime Minister of the consequences of a deal with Labour.
Nigel Evans MP told Sky News: 'I know that Leave voters are sometimes typified as a bit thick, but we are not and we can smell what Brexit-in-name-only is like. People will punish us further.
'We had an earthquake on Thursday throughout the entire country in the local elections and on May 23 [the European elections] that will be followed by a tsunami if both the Conservative Party and the Labour Party together try to push through some sort of Brexit-in-name-only. We all know that a customs union is not Brexit.'
Nigel Evans has warned Theresa May of the consequences of making a Brexit deal with Labour
Mr Evans, who is
