Lucy Allan: I won't be swayed by Brexit threats

The Conservative MP, who has twice voted against Mrs May's deal, said she would want to study carefully the terms of any further attempt to get the deal approved before deciding how to vote.

Theresa May's withdrawal agreement is expected to go before the House of Commons for a third time this week, with a vote possible as early as today.

The deal was rejected by MPs for a second time last week, by a majority of 149, but there are signs this week that many MPs are changing their position and are now prepared to support it.

Among them are Shrewsbury and Atcham MP Daniel Kawczynski, who voted against the deal last week, but said he would now support it. Mr Kawczynski said Parliament's decision to rule out a 'no-deal' Brexit meant that Mrs May's deal was now the only way to be certain of leaving the EU.

But Ms Allan said she would only consider the deal on its merits, and would not be influenced by warnings that Brexit might not take place if the deal was not approved.

She is one of 23 MPs, also including North Shropshire's Owen Paterson, who have signed a letter saying they still support a 'no-deal Brexit'.

Ms Allan said it was not yet clear whether there would be any changes to the withdrawal agreement when it went before parliament.

She told the Shropshire Star she would give any fresh proposal careful consideration.

But she added: "I will vote on the merits of the deal, and not be influenced by the threat of what others might do to stop Brexit subsequently, which we cannot predict."

In the joint letter, she said a 'no-deal' Brexit would prove to be the precursor to a very good deal indeed.

She wrote: "At the time of the 2016 refer the choice was between leaving the EU and remaining in it.

"Having lost the referendum, remainers then redefined the choice as between 'hard' or 'soft' Brexit – in reality between real departure and leaving in name only."

Ms Allan said a 'hard' or 'real' Brexit had now been further redefined as a 'catastrophic no-deal Brexit', and purportedly removed from the table by Remain-supporting MPs.

She added: "It is not our fault that we are confronted by two unacceptable choices, but it will be our fault if we cast a positive vote in favour of either for fear of the other."