up to now, and some have suggested she is moving in their direction.

Most Conservative MPs have said they would not support the move, saying it would mean the UK would not have an independent trade policy.

Mrs May chose to open talks with Jeremy Corbyn after Parliament rejected the withdrawal agreement she has negotiated with the EU a third time late last month.

After this defeat, the EU extended the deadline for the UK's departure - originally set for 29 March - until 31 October.

Mrs May told MPs she hoped the extension would be "terminable" well before this date and the UK would find itself outside the EU "as soon as possible".

Appearing before the Liaison Committee of senior MPs, she said the choice facing Parliament was the same as whenit last rejected her agreement.

MPs could opt to agree a deal and leave in an orderly fashion, to leave without a deal, hold another referendum, or to stay in the EU by revoking Article 50 - only the first of which she found "acceptable".

She said she was "convinced" that reaching out to Labour to try and build a majority for any deal was the right thing to do.

If no agreement was reached, she said the government would stand by its commitment to give MPs the chance to vote on a series of options, with ministers abiding by the outcome.

'Paralysed'

Pressed by Labour MP Hilary Benn on whether this would include a customs union, Mrs May pointed out that Parliament had already rejected the idea on more than one occasion.

But