A GROUP of five Eurosceptic UK Government ministers are hoping to lobby Theresa May to make last minute changes to the draft Brexit deal, it emerged yesterday.

The group is understood to be co-ordinated by Commons leader Andrea Leadsom and includes Environment Secretary Michael Gove, according to the BBC. They are joined by Liam Fox, International Trade Secretary, International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt and Chris Grayling, Transport Secretary.

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The ministers are expected to convene early next week and may be joined by others keen to play a role in influencing a revised deal. It is thought they intend to persuade May to re-negotiate details of the deal on exiting the backstop.

Supporters of Brexit are unhappy that under the current deal there is no guaranteed route out of a future backstop – triggered if no long-term trade deal that avoids a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is agreed before the end of 2020 – unless the EU gives its consent.

The Prime Minister published her draft withdrawal agreement with the EU on Wednesday, setting out the long-awaited terms of the UK’s departure in a 585-page document that was met with a backlash from across the political spectrum.

After she announced that the deal had the backing of her Cabinet, a slew of Conservative resignations followed, starting with Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, followed by the Work and Pensions Secretary, Esther McVey and a number of junior ministers.

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May then faced a hostile three-hour session in the House of Commons, during which there was open revolt from her own party and the DUP as well as all opposition parties. Yet, just a few hours later she pledged to “see it through” regardless.

Jacob Rees-Mogg MP is one of 23 Conservative MPs known to have submitted a letter of no-confidence against May. If 48 letters are sent, then a vote will be triggered and she could face a challenge to her leadership. It is said this could be reached next week, though there is doubt whether there would be enough support to unseat her.

Mark Francois, who has also sent a letter, said May’s plan would leave the UK “half in and half out” of the EU and claimed no-one expected her to get it through Parliament.

But she has been backed by others, including Alan Duncan MP who urged his colleagues to “stop and reflect”, rather than push for a potentially damaging leadership contest.

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Stephen Gethins SNP MP and spokesman on Europe, told the Sunday National: “With all wings of her party against her, it is abundantly clear that Theresa May has no chance of getting her deal through Parliament – leaving us all in political purgatory. The best deal short of EU membership is to remain in the single market and customs union.

“It is essential that we avoid both Theresa May’s hard Brexit and a no-deal scenario – and all options must be on the table to achieve that.”

Meanwhile, Leadsom has said there is still time for “more to be done” on the Brexit deal. Though claiming to support the Prime Minister she suggested there is an opportunity before a special European Council meeting on November 25 to get “the best possible deal for the UK”.

“There is still more to be done and we do still have more time before the EU Council at the end of the month so I’m absolutely committed to getting the Brexit that 17.4 million people voted for,” she told Sky News.

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May however has continued to insist that the agreed deal is the best on offer.

In response to resignations she has appointed former home secretary Amber Rudd, who quit over the Windrush scandal, back into the Cabinet to replace McVey at the DWP.

Stephen Barclay has been appointed as the new Brexit Secretary, the third this year, but the role has been further downgraded as the Prime Minister will in future take sole control of negotiations on the EU withdrawal.

Leave-supporting Barclay’s job will be limited to the domestic delivery of EU withdrawal, preparations for Brexit either with or without a deal and shepherding legislation through Parliament.

He said: “We now need to keep up the momentum to finalise the withdrawal agreement.”