Brexit negotiations with Brussels are now in the endgame, Theresa May has declared, amid predictions that a deal could be imminent.
The prime minister said talks between UK and European negotiators have been going on through the night in a bid to break the Brexit deadlock.
And, with Brexiteers in her cabinet and on the Tory backbenches threatening mutiny, the PM also promised no compromise on the 2016 referendum result or agreement at any cost.
The embattled PM’s latest attempt to placate the warring factions in the Conservative Party came in a speech at the annual Lord Mayor’s Banquet in the City of London.
In what is traditionally a major foreign policy speech, she also called for improved relations with Russia after this year’s Salisbury poisonings and a series of cyber attacks directed by the Kremlin.
But on Brexit, with the clock ticking in the UK’s race to reach a deal or face the prospect of no deal and potentially her removal as prime minister, she attempted to strike a tone that was both upbeat and defiant.
The negotiations for our departure are now in the endgame, she said.
And we are working extremely hard, through the night, to make progress on the remaining issues in the withdrawal agreement, which are significant.
Both sides want to reach an agreement. But what we are negotiating is immensely difficult. I do not shy away from that.
The PM’s reference to late-night talks came as it was disclosed that the latest negotiations in Brussels began on Sunday and lasted until 2.45am on Monday, but ended without a breakthrough.
And in a reference to her own precarious position as she faces attacks from both Leavers and Remainers in her party, the PM added: The Brexit talks are not about me or my personal fortunes.
They are about the national interest and that means making what I believe to be the right choices, not the easy ones.
I want them to know that I will not compromise on what people voted for in the referendum. This will not be an agreement at any cost.
Any deal must ensure we take back control of our laws, borders and money. It must secure the ability to strike new trade deals around the world.
Despite her upbeat “endgame” claim, Downing Street has played down reports that a Brexit deal would be put to ministers at this week’s regular Tuesday morning meeting of the cabinet.
The PM’s spokesman said such reports should always be taken with a pinch of salt, but added: I would apply a bucket of salt on this.
Although Brexit will be discussed at the Tuesday cabinet meeting, there will be no decision on the deal at that meeting.
Some MPs believe that if there is a Brexit deal it is more likely there will be a special cabinet meeting on Wednesday, followed by a Commons statement by the Prime Minister after PMQs.
Loyalist MPs also believe that if a deal is not agreed by Wednesday there will be no time for a special EU summit in Brussels in November and therefore no time for a vote in parliament before the Christmas recess.
But one leading Cabinet Brexiteer, the International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt, served notice that a deal could be vetoed by either the cabinet or MPs in the Commons.
The important thing is that there are two checks on this deal there is cabinet and there is parliament, she told Sky News.
Labour is attempting to turn up the heat on the government by demanding that the attorney general’s legal advice on the withdrawal agreement – including the Irish backstop is published once any Brexit deal is ready to be put to parliament.
A Labour motion being debated in the Commons on Tuesday will use the same parliamentary procedure the party used last year successfully to force the government to release Brexit impact assessments.
It’s simply untenable for the government to put forward any Brexit deal to Parliament without providing the legal advice on what’s been agreed, said shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer.
At this critical stage, MPs can’t be kept in the dark nor can we risk parliament being bounced into a decision without having all of the facts available.