Theresa May has dismissed speculation she could be ousted as prime minister over her Brexit agreement, saying: “I am going to see this through.”
Despite a series of ministers resigning and talk of a no-confidence vote, she vowed to get the deal signed off in Brussels and to put it to MPs.
“The course I have set out is the right one for our country,” she said.
The BBC understands Michael Gove has rejected Mrs May’s offer to become the new Brexit secretary.
BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said Environment Secretary Mr Gove had said he might accept – if he could try to make changes to the negotiated deal.
Sources said Mrs May made it clear that was not possible. He is now considering his position and contemplating resignation.
Other sources have told the BBC a wider group of ministers were discussing whether to try to force the PM to seek changes to the deal.
Earlier, Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey both quit in protest at the withdrawal agreement, along with two junior ministers.
And leading backbench Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg submitted a letter of no confidence in Mrs May to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the Tories’ backbench 1922 Committee.
A vote will be triggered if 48 Tory MPs write letters to Sir Graham – it is understood 48 letters have not yet been received.
Mrs May spent nearly three hours fielding largely critical questions from MPs before holding a press conference in Downing Street to further answer her critics.
She acknowledged the agreement negotiated with the EU had entailed “difficult and sometimes uncomfortable decisions”.
“I understand fully that there are some who are unhappy with those compromises but this deal delivers what people voted for and it is in the national interest,” she said.
“We can only secure it, if we unite behind the agreement reached in cabinet yesterday.
“If we do not move forward with that agreement, nobody can know for sure the consequences that will follow.
“It will be to take a path of deep and grave uncertainty when the British people just want us to get on with it. They are looking to the Conservative Party to deliver.”
