Theresa May has warned MPs that Brexit may not happen at all if they reject her deal.

With three weeks until Britain is scheduled to leave the European Union, the prime minister urged parliament to back her on Brexit and “get it done”.

Otherwise, she said “no one knows” what will happen in the aftermath of the Commons voting against her withdrawal agreement for a second time on Tuesday.

Mrs May’s stark warning, designed to persuade dissenting Brexit-supporting MPs to fall into line, comes as talks with the EU continue.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said it was a “sign of desperation”.

The PM is trying to secure changes to the Irish border backstop, with talks between the two sides expected to continue into the weekend.

The backstop is an insurance policy designed to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland.

It is the sticking point stopping Mrs May getting a deal approved, as many MPs have grave reservations about that aspect of the agreement.

The UK is due to leave the EU on 29 March, but the PM has promised to give parliament a vote on delaying the departure date if her deal is defeated next week.

A delay would be a nightmare scenario for Leave-supporting MPs, as it would open up the possibility of a softer form of Brexit – involving close ties with the EU – being approved by parliament.

Mrs May referenced this in her speech, saying a second rejection of her deal “might lead to a form of Brexit that does not match up to what people voted for”.

The chances of a second referendum being held would also increase, which could lead to Brexit being reversed altogether.

Banking on these fears playing on the minds of Brexit-backing MPs, Mrs May said: “Next week MPs in Westminster face a crucial choice: whether to back the Brexit deal or to reject it.

“Back it and the UK will leave the European Union. Reject it and no one knows what will happen.

“We may not leave the EU for many months, we may leave without the protections that the deal provides. We may never leave at all.”

The PM said not delivering on Brexit would do “profound damage” to the public’s faith in democracy.

She added: “The British people have already moved on. They are ready for this to be settled.

“By coming together as a Parliament, we can bring our country together.”

As well as appealing to MPs to back her deal during the speech in Grimsby, the PM urged Brussels to give ground in order to get a deal over the line.

Mrs May said what the bloc does in the next few days “will have a big impact on the outcome of the vote” – adding: “My message to them is: now is the moment for us to act.

“We have worked hard together over two years on the deal.

“It is a comprehensive deal that provides for an orderly exit from the EU, and that sets a platform for an ambitious future relationship.

“It needs just one more push, to address the final specific concerns of our parliament.”

Mr Corbyn, meanwhile, has promised to vote against the deal again on Tuesday.

He will instead continue to push Labour’s alternative Brexit plan, which includes a customs union with the EU and access to its single market.

Mr Corbyn said his priority was to stop a no-deal Brexit and insisted Labour was not “backing away” from a second referendum.

“What we’re saying is the priority at this moment is to stop a no-deal exit,” he said.

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