More than half of Tory MPs set to rebel over long delay on Brexit as May hopes to hold fourth vote on deal

More than half of Conservative MPs have demanded that Brexit should not be delayed by more than a few months as Theresa May faces a rebellion within her own Government.

The Prime Minister has reportedly received a letter calling for Britain to leave the European Union soon, even if it means a no-deal Brexit.

It was signed by 170 of the 330 Tory MPs and sent to Mrs May after her withdrawal deal was rejected for a third time on Friday, according to The Sun.

As many as 10 Cabinet ministers - including Sajid Javid and Jeremy Hunt - and 20 other members of Government are believed to have signed the letter.

It called on May to bring her deal back to Parliament for a fourth vote, with the threat of a general election if it is rejected again.

A source close to the signatories told paper: “The letter reaffirmed our commitment to the manifesto, and to the PMs own determination to seek a short extension to article 50 that avoids the EU elections.”

One Brexiteer minister who signed it said “Two thirds of the parliamentary party have sent the PM a very clear message. We want to leave the EU on April 12 or very soon afterwards.

“The nuclear option that she must now consider is to bring back her deal, with a confidence motion attached to it.

“If it is voted down again, then we will vote to dissolve Parliament and have a general election.”

Brandon Lewis, a Cabinet member and chairman of the Conservative Party, said he was aware of the letter, though he had not seen the final text or the signatures.

"We should be doing everything we can to leave the European Union in good order as quickly as we can, as we said in our manifesto and as we've said to Parliament," Lewis said. "I think the deal is the right way to do that."

Mrs May survived a no-confidence motion within the Conservative party by 83 votes in December.

The letter comes as the PM hinted that she may call a general election if Parliament cannot agree a way forward.

“I fear we are reaching the limits of this process in this House,” she told MPs who voted her deal down.

Her remarks appeared to signal that she is prepared to call a General Election to try to break the deadlock.

Mrs May said the vote would have “grave” implications and that failure to support her plan was "almost certain" to involve an extended delay to Brexit, with the UK required to hold elections to the European Parliament in May.