Amber Rudd has become the most senior Conservative to back a fresh referendum that could stop Brexit, rather than crashing out of the EU without a deal.
The former home secretary warned the UK was “in completely uncharted territory”, saying: “I think a ‘People’s Vote’ could be the result of an impasse.”
And, asked if she would back that vote if it was the only alternative to leaving with no agreement, she replied: “Is that preferable to a no-deal? Absolutely.”
The comments are the strongest evidence yet that moderate Tories are flexing their muscles to prevent Theresa May carrying out her threat to crash out of the EU if necessary.
Some senior cabinet ministers are also believed to be alarmed that the UK could end up facing a no-deal Brexit “by accident” and want the prime minister to adopt looser, ‘Canada-style’ trade proposals as a fallback.