Senior Eurosceptic backbenchers in the Conservative Party have urged Theresa May to quit her Brexit negotiations with the EU.
Many of the Prime Minister's colleagues are calling on her to produce an alternative strategy if the Government is unsuccessful in drawing up a free trade agreement with Brussels, ready for when Britain leaves the trading bloc in March 2019.
John Redwood MP, former Welsh Secretary under John Major, said that the slow-paced negotiations were unsurprising as the EU is renowned for leaving crucial decisions on trade until the last minute.
He said that the UK will thrive under World Trade Organization rules.
This country could end up with a very good trade deal
Tory MP Julian Lewis said this country could end up with a very good trade deal with Brussels if Mrs May walked away from her discussions with the trading bloc, urging Brexit Secretary David Davis to call their bluff.
Pressure to quit negotiating with the EU is also coming from a senior minister, who is calling on the Prime Minister to refuse to pay the divorce bill and prepare contingency plans in the likely event of no deal with Brussels. They said the threat would succeed in exploiting the differences between the EU's Chief Negotiator, Michel Barnier, and member states.
Discussions between both sides have so far stalled, with the UK debating with the trading bloc about how much it is going to cost to leave. This could prevent the Government from thrashing out details about a future trade deal, causing a delay in the next round of negotiations.
The EU's Chief Negotiator may be forced to soften his stance on the exit bill
It is possible that Mr. Barnier has informed other member states that they would not have to contribute more to the EU's budget once Britain leaves the trading bloc. Yet by threatening to quit the negotiations, the EU's Chief Negotiator may be forced to soften his position on the exit bill, a Cabinet minister has said.
The minister told The Daily Telegraph that contingency plans need to be drawn up so that Brussels can anticipate Britain will walk away without paying any money. If the EU succeeds in getting its own way, the divorce bill could be as high as £91 billion, or 100 billion euros.
Mr. Davis has previously said the Government and the trading bloc cannot agree over the size of the exit fee.
She is leading a weak government
The latest interventions come as the Prime Minister is set to strengthen her Brexit stance. Tory donor Lord Harris said she is leading a weak government divided over leaving the trading bloc. The next Conservative Party Conference is expected to be her opportunity to produce a tough speech aimed at Brussels.
She will reiterate her election pledges to restore sovereignty to Parliament after March 2019.
Business leaders have urged Mrs May to take advantage of the Trump administration's offer of a post-Brexit trade deal very quickly after the UK leaves the trading bloc.
A substantial report was issued by the US-UK Business Council,a new body created by the US Chamber of Commerce, after American ambassador Woody Johnson arrived in London. Mr. Johnson has stressed that Brexit presents an opportunity to strengthen the special relationship between both countries.
One source said to The Daily Express that this was the platform the current President campaigned on, as joint prosperity between both nations will lead to jobs and trade growth.
However, this report says that the EU could employ Article 8 of the 2007 Lisbon Treaty, which states that Brussels can develop a special relationship with neighbouring countries, as the foundation for a trade deal with the UK. It allows the trading bloc to adopt specific agreements with them. Chief executives of American businesses are urging Britain's EU exit to be as painless as possible.
The document also called on tariff-free trade between both sides and for the Government to implement a flexible immigration system that allows organisations to transfer employees from British to EU offices and vice versa, safeguarding seasonal working arrangements for the hospitality and agricultural industries.
