KEY PLAYERS

These people will be the key players over the next few momentous days as the Prime Minister battles to keep her Brexit agenda, and her premiership, on track.

Jeremy Corbyn

The Labour leader is also under pressure from elements of his own party who want him to move a confidence vote against the Government. Some 50 Labour MPs and peers have urged him to force the issue, as have the Liberal Democrats and SNP.

Donald Tusk

The European Council president said that Brexit had now been added to the two-day EU summit taking place this week after the events at Westminster. However, Mr Tusk signalled the EU intends to stand firm, stating that the EU would not renegotiate the deal or backstop measures on the Irish border issue, but would only discuss “how to facilitate UK ratification”.

Jean-Claude Juncker

The European Commission president has also made clear that negotiations will not be re-opened. Mr Juncker has made a point of saying the EU will stand firm with the Irish government over backstop arrangements for the Irish border which would see the UK remain subject to the bloc’s customs rules if no wider trade deal is agreed before the end of a transition period.

Leo Varadkar

The Taoiseach has taken a much tougher stance on Brexit issues since taking over as Irish leader from Enda Kenny in 2017. Heading a minority government and facing possible elections within the next few months, Mr Varadkar cannot afford to be seen to give ground to the UK at home.

Arlene Foster

The DUP leader has been flexing her party’s political muscles over Brexit as Mrs May relies on it for a slender Commons majority. Mrs Foster has insisted that the backstop measures are unacceptable and the DUP cannot support them. However, the DUP has said it will back Mrs May if she faces a confidence vote in the Commons, but only if last month’s EU Withdrawal Agreement is voted down by MPs or significantly changed.

Penny Mordaunt

The International Development Secretary, and prominent Brexiteer has sounded ambivalent about the Brexit deal at times. At Westminster she is widely seen as the most likely next Cabinet resignation over Brexit. Other leading Brexiteers, Environment Secretary Michael Gove, and International Trade Secretary Liam Fox, have – so far – publicly backed Mrs May’s stand.

Sir Graham Brady

The chairman of the powerful 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers is the only person who knows how many MPs have put in letters calling for a vote of confidence in Mrs May. If the figure reaches 48 Tory MPs then a vote would be automatically triggered.