European Research Group (ERG) stalwarts Jacob Rees-Mogg and Iain Duncan Smith are wavering in their opposition to Mrs May’s agreement, sources say, as they face warnings its failure could cause a lengthy delay which could put Brexit itself at risk.

It comes after David Davis made the bombshell decision to vote for the deal on Tuesday, and former work and pensions secretary Esther McVey said she would be going through the aye lobby next week ‘the rules have changed’.

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European Research Group (ERG) stalwarts Jacob Rees-Mogg (left, on Thursday) and Iain Duncan Smith (right, on February 28) are wavering in their opposition to Mrs May’s agreement, sources say

But despite the positive signs Mrs May still faces a difficult task ahead, with senior ERG figures predicting she will lose her third vote by ‘well over 100 votes’, according to the Sunday Telegraph.

Mr Duncan Smith is said to have been prepared to back Mrs May’s deal at its second showing if Attorney General Geoffrey Cox had changed his legal advice on the Irish backstop, as was ERG chairman Mr Rees-Mogg.

‘Iain and Jacob were both on the verge, and they are still looking to rat,’ a colleague told The Sunday Times.

Ms McVey, who resigned in protest at Mrs May’s agreement, is insistent that voting with the Prime Minister is now her only option as ‘the rules have changed’.

She told Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday that this week’s vote to rule out No Deal had left MPs facing the choice between ‘this bad deal and no Brexit whatsoever’.

‘When I resigned there was still a chance to get a better deal or no deal – which is what we stood on in our party manifesto – but this week the government and parliament conspired to take no deal off the table. So I will be holding my nose,’ she said.

Meanwhile, former Brexit Secretary David Davis is rallying support for the deal after his bombshell decision to back it last week.

He joined 15 MP who signed an open letter warning the rebels that they risk losing Brexit entirely. Signatories included Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski – who voted against the Government only last week.

The increase pressure on Tory rebels appears to be having some impact, with Mr Rees-Mogg reportedly ‘snippy’ with Eurosceptic allies urging him not to back down at a gala this week .

Deputy ERG chair Steve Baker is also ‘under great strain’, a colleague told The Sunday Times, with some believing him to still be ‘in play’. Other rejected this assessment. 

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Richard Harrington – who last week urged hardline Brexiteers to leave the Tories and join Nigel Farage’s new Brexit Party – said his battle was inside the Conservatives. 

But as the new Independent Group appealed for members from across the Commons, Mr Harrington said only he and others ‘intend to win this battle’.

Independent group ringleader Chuka Umunna today predicted the group would turn into a full-blown political party within months.

He made a direct plea to ‘demoralised’ Tory MPs frustrated at the ‘Ukipisation’ of the party’s grass roots as ex-Ukip members turn to the Conservatives. 

Mr Umunna’s call came as Westminster waits to see who will jump next. If the group can swell to 36 members it could take the SNP’s place as the third biggest party and get to question the Prime Minister every week.

Tory MPs Sarah Wollaston, Anna Soubry and Heidi Allen are all the subject of intense scrutiny amid rumours they could defect.

Former minister Nick Boles said it was ‘b*******’ to suggest he could defect today – after appearing to leave the question open yesterday.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has been warned he could lose as many as 50 MPs if he refuses to tackle the anti-Semitism, bullying and hard-left culture cited by the seven politicians who triggered the biggest split in British politics since 1981.

Dr Wollaston’s intervention will raise expectations she and other Tory MPs could join the ‘gang of seven’ centrists who walked out of Labour yesterday

The rebel MPs have chosen to sit next to the DUP in the Commons today. Angela Smith, Chris Leslie, Gavin Shuker and Mike Gapes are pictured in the Commons top right behind Lib Dem MP Christine Jardine speaking today

Mr Harrington told the Telegraph he ‘perfectly understands’ what Independent Group is doing and wishes them all the best – adding the for the Conservative Party by one nation Tories like himself and Greg Clark is not lost.

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