The British Prime Minister has written to her MPs asking them to "move beyond what divides us" and back her Brexit proposals.
Theresa May has issued a plea for politicians to sacrifice their "personal preferences" for the national interest.
On Thursday, she suffered a symbolic defeat in parliament over her approach to negotiating changes to the withdrawal agreement.
She confirmed plans to meet with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker next week – and warned her Tory colleagues that "history will judge us all" if they don’t unite and deliver on Brexit.
Meanwhile, UK Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay will meet with the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier on Monday.
In a letter to all 317 Conservative MPs, she wrote: "History will judge us all for the parts we have played in this process."
“Without a withdrawal agreement, we risk a combination forming in parliament that will stop Brexit altogether – whatever the long-term consequences for trust in our democracy.”
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaking at the All-Island Civic Dialogue on Brexit in Dublin Castle, 15-02-2019. Image: Sam Boal/RollingNewsBrexit
Mrs May said leaving the EU without a deal on March 29th “would cause disruption to our economy and to people's daily lives, damaging jobs both at home and across the EU.”
“Instead, our party can do what it has done so often in the past,” she wrote. “Move beyond what divides us and come together behind what unites us”
She said it was time to “sacrifice if necessary our own personal preferences in the higher service of the national interest.”
Backstop
Mrs May has pledged to achieve progress in her attempts to agree “alternative arrangements” on the Irish backstop with the EU in time for the next House of Commons debate on February 26th and 27th.
The EU has consistently warned that the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement - including the Irish backstop - is not open for re-negotiation.
However, officials have suggested the political declaration – which complements the agreement – could be amended.
The Taoiseach on Friday warned that anyone who expected the EU to break ranks with Ireland on the issue was “in for a nasty surprise.”
People's vote
It was confirmed last week that the UK’s opposition Labour Party will now back a cross-party plan – expected to go to a Commons vote on February 27th – that would force the Government to conclude negotiations by March 13th or allow MPS to vote for ‘no-deal’ or a second referendum.
“The option of going back to the people has got to be there”
Labour’s Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell on another #Brexit referendum#Marr https://t.co/99TkHy8W5i pic.twitter.com/pBQtTx0WGj— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) February 17, 2019
On the BBCs Andrew Marr programme this morning, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said: “The option of going back to the people has got to be there.”
“I don’t think the Prime Minister is just stumbling; I think she is floundering,” he said.
“We are in a situation now where Parliament is literally taking it out of her hands and saying Parliament has got to agree this.
“So we are part of these negotiations in Parliament to see what sort of deal would be acceptable – and if not, we have said the option on the table will be to go back to the people.”
He denied that his party risked a split over the issue.
Additional reporting from IRN ..
