Watson offers up deputy leaders' Brexit debate

He offered to face Tory deputy leader David Lidington in a debate televised by the BBC.

Theresa May has agreed to appear on a leaders debate on the BBC on December 9, but Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn wants it to be screened on ITV so it does not clash with I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!

West Bromwich East MP and Labour deputy leader Mr Watson said: "We're in favour of the debate. I think Jeremy's team prefer the ITV structure to that.

"I'm pretty certain the TV debate will go ahead, and if it ends up on ITV then I don't mind doing a deputy leaders debate on the BBC."

Mrs May has said she will only take part in a TV debate against Mr Corbyn, and not any other MPs or campaigners, insisting the country had moved on from the Leave vs Remain argument.

Meanwhile the Prime Minister accused Labour of planning a 'betrayal of the British people' by voting down her Brexit deal and pushing the country towards a 'no deal' departure from the EU.

With less than a fortnight to go to the historic House of Commons vote on her plan, she urged all MPs – including 100 or more Tories who have said they may rebel – to cast their vote 'in the national interest' and back a deal which she said would deliver Brexit while protecting jobs.

Speaking at the G20 summit in Argentina, Mrs May declined to discuss whether she might offer a Plan B if her deal is voted down on December 11, or whether defeat could mean her resigning or being forced out.

"It's not about me," said Mrs May. "This is about what is in the national interest.

"It's about delivering the vote to leave the EU and doing it in a way that protects people's jobs and livelihoods and protects our security and our United Kingdom."

Her comments came after a cross-party group of senior MPs tabled an amendment to stop the UK leaving the EU without a deal if Mrs May's plan fails to win the support of the Commons.