Theresa May: cabinet collectively focused on passing Brexit deal

Theresa May has said her cabinet is “collectively focused” on passing her Brexit deal, after a number of her ministers openly floated options if the deal fell through, including a second referendum and a “managed no-deal”.

Her comments came as a cross-party group of MPs, including select committee chairs, tabled a new amendment to the finance bill designed to prevent the UK from leaving the EU without a deal.

On Wednesday the work and pensions secretary, Amber Rudd, suggested there was a “plausible argument” for a second referendum if parliament could not reach agreement on a deal.

But May said on Thursday that all her ministers were “very clear … what government policy is.”

Other ministers – including the foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt, and the international development secretary, Penny Mordaunt – have suggested the UK could mitigate the effects of no-deal, with Mordaunt suggesting a “managed glidepath” including a two-year transition to trading on World Trade Organisation terms.