Jacob Rees-Mogg, a leading Brexiteer in Theresa May's Conservative Party, said he was in favour of the prime minister's Brexit deal and he hoped the Northern Irish DUP that props up the government would come on the side.

Rees-Mogg had previously said he would only vote for Theresa May's deal if the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) either backed her withdrawal agreement or abstained on the vote.

"I am in favour of the deal and I hope the DUP will come over to the deal but we'll have to wait and see what they do," he told reporters.

"I have no plans to speak to Arlene Foster but I do have conversations with the DUP from time to time. I don't like her deal, I make no bones about this, I don't think the deal has suddenly got better but simply that the alternative is worse, it's not having any Brexit at all," he added.