Defiant Theresa May warns Brexit could be CANCELLED if Tory plotters kick her out of No10 – and insists she’s never considered quitting

THERESA May today insisted she never considered resigning despite facing a coup from dozens of the own MPs furious about her Brexit deal.

She warned the plotters they risk Britain's future - claiming that if she gets toppled, the country may never end up leaving the EU.

The PM admitted she'd endured a "tough week", adding: "These negotiations have been tough right from the start but they were always going to get even more difficult right toward the end."

And she predicted another tricky week ahead, telling Sky News: "These seven days are going to be critical."

But asked if she had been tempted to resign after the events of the last few days - when two Cabinet ministers quit and rebel MPs launched a bid to force her out - she replied: "No I haven't."

As Mrs May braced for a make-or-break few days ahead:

• The PM revealed she'll travel to Brussels for further talks with EU chiefs
• The Tory backbench boss confirmed rebel MPs aren't strong enough to kick her out yet
• Dominic Raab set out a leadership pitch days after quitting as Brexit Secretary
• Boris Johnson weighed up whether or not to join the campaign against the PM
• Party bosses prepared for a snap election amid reports just 10 per cent of Brits back the current Brexit deal
• Tory whips scrambled to avoid a humiliating Commons defeat on the Budget this week
• Jeremy Corbyn vowed to oppose the withdrawal agreement - but admitted he hasn't actually read it

In her Sky interview, Mrs May called on Tory backbenchers to scrap their attempt to get a new leader.

She said: "A change of leadership at this point isn't going to make the negotiations any easier and it won't change the parliamentary arithmetic.

"What it will do is bring in a degree of uncertainty. That is uncertainty for people and their jobs.

"What it will do is mean that it is a risk that we delay the negotiations and that is a risk that Brexit gets delayed or frustrated."

The PM said she had spoken to Graham Brady, the backbench chief who would be in charge of any possible leadership election.

Sir Graham confirmed to her that he hasn't received enough letters from MPs to trigger a vote of confidence.

Mrs May revealed she will travel to Brussels in the coming days for talks with top Eurocrat Jean-Claude Juncker in a last-minute bid to thrash out tweaks to the withdrawal agreement.

She said: "There is indeed more negotiation taking place and nothing is agreed until everything is agreed."

But she added that it would be impossible to rip up the deal and start again - as demanded by a group of Brexiteer ministers.

Mrs May claimed voting down her deal would be more likely to lead to a second referendum, saying: "There are those in the House of Commons who just want to stop Brexit.

"I believe it is essential for people's trust in politics and people's trust in Parliament that we deliver Brexit."

The PM came out fighting today as she faces a possible leadership election which could take place as soon as Tuesday.

Mrs May has repeatedly vowed to see off her Tory rivals - insisting her Brexit plan is the only one available.

Dominic Raab, who quit the Cabinet on Thursday, gave an interview where he claimed he still backs the PM - but it was seen by Westminster insiders as a veiled leadership bid as he vowed to oppose the "fatally flawed" Brexit deal.

The ex-Brexit Secretary said: "I do think we are being bullied, I do think we are being subjected to what is pretty close to blackmail frankly.

"I do think there is a point at which, we probably should have done it before, were we just say 'I'm sorry this is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, we cannot accept those dictated terms'."

Asked if he believed the deal was worth the £39billion "divorce bill", Mr Raab gave a simple "no".

But he called on fellow MPs not to launch a challenge to Mrs May, saying: "I will support this Prime Minister and I want her to get this right."

Mr Raab claimed a confidence vote would be "a total distraction from what we need to do".

He is seen by Brexiteers as one of the top candidates to take over as PM if Mrs May is forced out.

Another leading candidate, Boris Johnson, is still deciding whether or not to join the attempted coup against the leader being masterminded by Jacob Rees-Mogg.

Allies say he could wait until next month's Commons vote on the Brexit deal to pounce - warning that a failed putsch against Mrs May could end up making her stronger.

MPs will this week vote on whether or not to approve Philip Hammond's Budget plans, in a possible show of strength which will demonstrate whether the rebels have the numbers to force the PM out.

Tory bosses are believed to be so worried about the Government collapsing that they are readying plans for a snap General Election to take place within weeks.

Local parties in marginal constituencies have reportedly been offered extra resources to make sure they are ready for a poll where Mrs May could seek the country's support for her proposals.

A new survey conducted on behalf of pro-EU campaign Best for Britain suggests just 10 per cent of voters think the PM's Brexit deal would benefit them and their families.

But Mrs May received a boost from a separate poll of Tory councillors, who said by a large margin that they want her to win any possible vote of confidence in her leadership.

Writing in The Sun on Sunday, the PM today claimed her Brexit deal honours all the key promises made during the referendum campaign.

She said: “For the first time in a generation or more we will decide who comes to this country and, just as importantly, who does not.

"I spent six years as Home Secretary listening to the public, understanding their concerns about lack of control and about wanting the number of people settling here to be more sustainable. People want free movement to end. This agreement does that.”

Mrs May insisted the controversial "Irish backstop" which would trap Britain in the EU customs union indefinitely is never likely to come into play because it is only an insurance policy.

And she added: "After two years of hard work, we are now arriving at what I firmly believe is the right deal for Britain.

"If MPs reject the deal, they will simply take us back to square one. It would mean more division, more uncertainty and a failure to deliver on the vote of the British people.

"There is no alternative plan on the table. There is no different approach that we could agree with the EU. The course I have set is the right one for our country and the only one that will work."

The PM faces another crunch week after enduring the trickiest few days of her time in power so far.

Nearly 40 Tory MPs are believed to have put in letters calling for Mrs May to be toppled as party leader.

If 48 of them demand a vote of confidence, Sir Graham must call one within days.

Even if Mrs May survives a confidence vote, her position is in danger as she faces probable defeat when the Brexit deal comes to the Commons in December.

A week today, the PM is scheduled to attend an emergency summit in Brussels where EU leaders are expected to sign off on the withdrawal agreement.

Pro-Brexit ministers want her to force through changes to the deal to allow Britain to end the backstop at will.

They will meet tomorrow morning  to discuss how to persuade Mrs May to give in to their demands.

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