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MP: Give May more time for Brexit deal

Theresa May must be given more time to piece together the right Brexit deal for the UK, a pro-Leave Black Country MP has said.

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Walsall North MP Eddie Hughes

Brexiteer Eddie Hughes admits he has reservations about the Prime Minister's agreement with the EU, particularly over the issue of the Irish backstop.

But the Walsall North Tory MP says it would be wrong to challenge Mrs May's leadership, insisting she still has time to remould her deal before Sunday's crucial summit with EU leaders in Brussels.

It came as Mrs May continued to brush off Brexiteer-led calls for a challenge to her leadership.

The issue of the Irish border has proven to be a huge stumbling block with the Prime Minister's agreement with the EU, prompting the DUP to vote against the Government's budget this week amid accusations of broken promises.

Mr Hughes said: "I share the concerns of others regarding the time limit on the Irish backstop and I want reassurances on that issue in particular.

"We are the Conservative and Unionist party and the Brexit deal needs to preserve the interests of the union.

"However, we have until the summit to go over the deal and the Prime Minister has time for further negotiations.

"I am opposed in the extreme to replacing her now. Her determination to get a deal through is to be respected and I firmly believe we should allow some degree of latitude.

"It is clear that a huge number of people within the party want the job [as Prime Minister], but that means people are not coalescing around one of two names.

"It remains to be seen whether anyone else could do a better job, but the Prime Minister deserves the maximum amount of time to get this through."