The PM told This Morning 'I will still have a job in two weeks' time' despite rumours she could resign if the deal is voted down
THERESA May today insisted she WON'T quit next week if her Brexit deal is voted down by Parliament - telling Phillip Schofield she'll "still have a job in two weeks' time".
The PM refused to explain what her back-up plan will be if the withdrawal agreement is defeated by MPs on December 11.
During an interview with ITV's This Morning she called on politicians to "hold our nerve" and get the deal over the line - insisting it will make Britain better off in the long term.
Pushed on what she will do if the vote next week fails, as seems likely, Mrs May said she's only focused on convincing the Commons to support her deal.
But she added: "I will still have a job in two weeks' time, and my job is making sure that we do what people have asked us to."
Previously it's been suggested Mrs May could resign if she suffers a heavy defeat which knocks her Brexit plans off course.
This afternoon, the PM again pleaded with MPs to back her deal as she made a Commons statement on the G20 summit she attended last week.
As another crunch week began for Mrs May:
Before this afternoon's Commons showdown Mrs May was on the This Morning sofa for a grilling by hosts Phillip Schofield and Rochelle Humes.
They asked if she was "knackered" by the Brexit drama - and the PM replied: "It is a tough time, it's been a difficult time, an awful lot of work has gone into this.
"The key point is, just keep focused on the endpoint."
Mrs May added: "It's about holding our nerve and getting this over the line."
Quizzed on whether her deal will leave Britain better off than it is now, the PM again refused to say that we'll definitely prosper.
But she added: "We can be better off - that's up to us. What delivers us being better off is what we here in the UK do."
Mrs May was also grilled on the proposed TV debate between her and Jeremy Corbyn - which is now in jeopardy because the two leaders can't agree if it should be on the BBC or ITV.
Asked which one she prefers, the PM said: "His proposal meant that I'd miss Strictly - and I hate to say this on ITV but I'm a bit of a Strictly fan."
This afternoon Mrs May made the latest in a string of marathon Commons statements designed to convince MPs they have no choice but to back her deal, or risk political chaos.
Reporting back on the G20 summit, she said: “Once we leave the EU, we can and we will strike ambitious trade deals.
“For the first time in more than 40 years we will have an independent trade policy, and we will continue to be a passionate advocate for the benefits open economies and free markets can bring."
But the Government also faces a massive bust-up with pro-Brexit rebels, opposition leaders and Commons Speaker John Bercow.
Attorney General Geoffrey Cox has been ordered to publish all the legal advice he's given Mrs May on her proposed deal - but has only handed over a summary instead.
Ministers could be held in contempt of Parliament if they refuse to comply with the order in full.
Sajid Javid added to the PM's headaches this morning when he confirmed The Sun's report that the long-awaited immigration white paper won't be published before next week.
The Home Secretary told the BBC: "It's unlikely, actually very unlikely, to be published before the vote. It will be published soon."
The added delay means MPs won't know what the Government's future immigration strategy is at the time they vote on Brexit.
This afternoon the new Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay and top civil servant Olly Robbins were mauled by backbenchers on the Commons Brexit committee.
Jacob Rees-Mogg warned that under the hated backstop deal the UK would face "taxation without representation", adding: "The EU will be setting our customs taxes and we will have no say on them."
When Mr Barclay was unable to reply in detail, the Brexiteer blasted: "You don’t seem to know about it which is worrying."
Mr Robbins said the backstop was a "slightly uncomfortable necessity" for both Britain and the EU and added: "It's not the future relationship that either the UK or the EU wants to have with one another."
But he insisted the PM had won a victory by getting the EU to agree to a bespoke trade deal instead of an agreement which is "either Norway or Canada".
During the fiery session, Mr Barclay insisted that plans by Tory Whips to cancel the Brexit vote won't come to pass.
He said: "I think the meaningful vote has been set out for the 11th and that is what I expect to be the case."
CITY banks have been warned not to move business to Europe because of Brexit unless it's strictly necessary.
The financial watchdog has told large firms it will intervene if they cause "unacceptable risks" by overreacting to political developments.
At least five banks received a letter from the Financial Conduct Authority, Financial News reported.
They were told they should only make "minimum necessary changes" to prepare for Brexit instead of transferring all their clients in London to European branches instead.
The FCA threatened to step in and stop them if they endanger clients' interests by moving them to the EU for no good reason.
A spokesman said: "We have emphasised to firms that we expect decisions taken by them in relation to EU withdrawal to be consistent with our statutory objectives, which includes the interests of their clients."
Banks have previously been accused of panicking over Brexit.
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