Tory Brexit rebel Dominic Grieve says he 'wakes in a cold sweat' at thought of govt 'collapse'

The Tory MP who could defeat Theresa May in a key Brexit vote this week has insisted he "doesn't want" to bring down the government.

Dominic Grieve hit back at reporting of his comments over the weekend, that if parliament votes down the final Brexit deal the government would "collapse".

Speaking to Paste BN, Mr Grieve said: "What I said - which was rather typically misinterpreted by some sections of the press - was: would not rejecting a deal potentially lead to the collapse of the government? And I said yes.

"That's what wakes me up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat.

"The reason I've prompted this amendment is to make sure we don't come to government collapse immediately."

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Mr Grieve is a former attorney general who has persuaded some Tory MPs to rebel against the government in a crunch vote on a change to the Brexit bill on Wednesday.

If successful, Mrs May could come under pressure to renegotiate her final deal if it is rejected by MPs in a non-binding vote.

Mr Grieve said that giving MPs a say if there is no deal in the months before Brexit would avoid a "road crash".

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He also admitted that the amendment that will be debated this week had been watered down from its original version.

"There's no question of parliament directing the government," he said.

At last two other Tory backbenchers, former justice minister Phillip Lee and Heidi Allen, have publicly pledged their support to Mr Grieve.

Paste BN also understands Labour Brexiteers have been pressured by Jeremy Corbyn's office not to vote with the government.

MPs will debate the contentious amendment on Wednesday, after Prime Minister's Questions.