THE great Brexit divide spilled over into Cumbrian politics yesterday as MPs took opposing views on the Prime Minister’s draft Brexit deal.

Carlisle MP John Stevenson confessed to being unsettled by the dramatic tone of the debate at Westminster and called for a reasoned debate - but the Conservative back-bencher said the proposed withdrawal deal was not the right way forward for the UK.

By contrast, Penrith and the Border MP Rory Stewart gave the deal his blessing. He hailed it as a “remarkable” achievement.

The MPs spoke as the political temperature rose steadily throughout yesterday, with a series of high-profile resignations and an attempt - led by chief Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg - to trigger a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister.

“There’s too much ambiguity - particularly with regard to the Customs Union,” said Mr Stevenson.

“I stand by my long-held view that it’s in the best interests of the UK to join the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), and then do a deal on the back of that.”

He rated the prospect of Parliament approving the draft deal as remote. But failing to approve a deal of some sort would be “catastrophic”, he warned.

Mr Stewart spoke in glowing terms about the draft deal. “The Prime Minister has pulled off something remarkable,” he said.

“Basically, what she’s pulled off is what Europe said they would not give us, which is control over immigration, full single market access, and no regulations around selling, which is completely vital to keep our big industries going.”

“We’ve managed to get control over immigration, to have no Common Agricultural Policy, no Common Fisheries Policy; we’re leaving all that federal stuff behind; and the deal gets rid of our massive contributions to the EU budget. They [the Brexiteers] are running the risk that we will have a very, very damaging crash out of the EU.”

That would trigger a collapse in business confidence, said Mr Stewart. The EU “red tape” that Brexiteers want to ditch refers to environmental regulations, social regulations, and workers’ rights, said Mr Stewart.

He said the pro-Brexit economist Sir Patrick Minford had suggested moving away from manufacturing goods such as cars into different types of business.

“I don’t think that’s what people voted for,” said Mr Stewart. “It’s an extremely disruptive and dangerous idea. Trying to do that would lead to a lot of disruption. - and economic turmoil. A lot of people would be worse off.

“I don’t think they’ve sketched out how their ideas are going to work.” the prisons minister concluded by calling for calm, adding: “I still believe that sense will prevail.”

South Lakeland MP Tim Farron described the draft deal as “the worst of all worlds,” adding: “We have got to down weapons and work together.

“We need a government of national unity to run until the end of this Parliament. We need to take a deep breath and go back to the negotiating table.”