A Watford MP has restated he would step down if Britain left the European Union without a deal that ensured the future of businesses.

Richard Harrington appeared on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme this morning saying he was “not prepared to sell business down the river for other people's political dogma” - and that World Trade Organisation rules were always a “last resort”.

His comments follow Theresa May’s defeat in the Commons last week when her planned deal was rejected.

The PM is due to make a statement at 3.30pm today where she hopes to win over Tory Brexiteer MPs and DUP MPs by resolving their concerns over the backstop plan for the Irish border.

Speaking to Nick Robinson on the Today programme this morning, Mr Harrington said: “Crashing out, in my view, is an absolute disaster. It’s not a road to a free trade agreement, it’s not a road to anything.

“It’s an absolute disaster for the country and it’s supported by a minority of a minority of people. The Prime Minister doesn’t support it, I support her deal or a variation of it, which I’m sure we are going to get back.

“And she should, in my view, say we are responsible people, we are going to do our duty to business, and we are going to rule out no deal because we want a great deal.”

When asked by the presenter what made Mr Harrington “really anxious” about the deal, he said: “We’ve had this sham of pretend trade agreements which haven’t happened yet; we’ve got for example our exports of steal to Turkey – a very good thing we do – 20 per cent plus tariffs, car exports and everything like that - WTO was a last resort position, it was always meant to be that it was never meant for trading between some of the most sophisticated and complex economies in the world.

“I’m not prepared to sell business down the river for other people's political dogma.”

When asked if he was still prepared to step down if the PM “took him in that direction”, Mr Harrington said: “Absolutely, but I support the PM’s deal.”

On whether he planned to vote for a backbench bill to block no deal, he said: “The PM should accept that the people who are prepared to crash out are a minority of a minority – let Parliament do their job.”