Penrith and the Border MP Rory Stewart has given enthusiastic backing to Theresa May's controversial draft Brexit deal, describing it as a "remarkable " achievement."

But the MP - who is also prisons minister - apologised after using a live debate on Radio 5 to claim that 80 per cent of the British public would support the deal given a chance.

The drama unfolded as Theresa May's government was rocked by a series of high-profile resignations by ministers who have rejected the proposed withdrawal framework.
The first was Northern Ireland Minister Shailesh Vara, followed within hours by Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and then Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey.
"I think it's a really good deal," said Mr Stewart. "The Prime Minister has pulled off something remarkable.
"Basically, what she's pulled off is what the Europe said they would not give us - control over immigration, full single market access, and no regulations around selling, which is completely vital to keep our big industries going."
The dramatic comments made by leading Brexiteers such as Jacob Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson, who claimed the deal would leave the UK as a vassal (slave) were over-the-top, said the MP.

"It's dangerous talk," he said.
"We've managed to get control over immigration, to have no Common Agricultural Policy, no Common Fisheries Policy; we're leaving all that federal stuff behind; and the deal gets rid of our massive contributions to the EU budget.

"They [the Brexiteers] are running the risk that we will have a very, very damaging crash out of the EU."
That would trigger a collapse in business confidence, and difficult economic period, said Mr Stewart, who has read the the 585-page draft deal proposal document.
The "red tape" Brexiteers want to ditch covers environmental and social regulations, and workers' rights, said Mr Stewart. 
He said that the pro-Brexit economist Sir Patrick Minford had suggested the UK should move away from manufacturing goods such as cars into different types of business.
"I don't think that's what people voted for," said Mr Stewart. "It's an extremely disruptive and dangerous idea.
"Trying to do that would lead to a lot of disruption - and economic turmoil.
"A lot of people would be worse off.
"I don't think they've sketched out how their ideas are going to work."
Mr Stewart concluded by calling for calm, adding: "I still believe that sense will prevail."
The MP went on to say: "This is a deal which 80 per cent of British people would think is very sensible...I refuse to accept that people are going to sign up to sign up to something which is completely wrong-headed.

"I believe in this deal and I believe that we're going to be able to convince people to vote for it."
He later went on to apologise for using the 80 per cent figure, conceding he did not know how many of the public backed the deal;he was simply using the figure to illustrate what he believes to be the case.
Boris Johnson, who quit is foreign secretary role over Brexit, aimed ferocious criticism at the deal.
He said: "We are going to stay in the Customs Union on this deal; we are going to stay effectively in large parts of the single market and that means it's vassal state stuff."
He urged cabinet ministers to resign in protect at the draft deal, which is likely to be voted on by MPs in the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, in a live questions-and-answers session on TV this afternoon, Mrs May reiterated her support for what she said had been a long and complex negotiation to put together the draft withdrawal deal. 

She insisted that it would protect national security, protect jobs, and give the UK a "great future."