NORTH Essex MP and staunch Brexiteer Sir Bernard Jenkin says the PM's plan for exiting the EU is "dead".

The veteran said the blueprint put forward by Theresa May last week is “neither beloved by Remainers or Leavers” and claimed it was “quite likely” to rejected by the European Union.

Mrs May's plans would see the UK "maintain a common rulebook for all goods" with the EU, including agricultural products, after Brexit while a treaty would also be signed committing the UK to "continued harmonisation" with EU rules.

That, she claims, would avoid friction at the UK-EU border, including between Northern Ireland and the Republic. 

The agreement also states Parliament will oversee the UK's trade policy and have the ability to "choose" to deviate from the EU rules.

"Due regard" to EU case law would also have to be paid by UK courts. 

Sir Bernard's comments come after Justine Greening, a former cabinet minister, also suggested the proposals for the UK’s future relationship with the bloc offered to “worst of both worlds” as she became the most high-profile Conservative MP to back a fresh referendum.

Writing for the Sun on Sunday, Sir Bernard said: "The past seven days have been some of the most tumultuous in politics.

"It started with the Chequers Cabinet meeting, where the Prime Minister told her Brexit ministers to accept the new policy or resign.

"Within a few days, both David Davis and Boris Johnson resigned. Others followed. On our 2017 Brexit manifesto, Conservative MPs were mostly united.

"This change of policy has shattered that unity.

"After [the] resignations, EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said: 'It will be crystal clear at the end of this negotiation that the best situation will be to remain a member of the EU.'

"He means that the EU will force the UK to accept a punishment Brexit, or to retreat from Brexit altogether.

"Conservative MPs must now answer a simple question: Will we back the majority who voted for national independence, or just give in to Brussels?

"There is no middle way. The Chequers plan looks dead. Either the EU overloads it with yet more demands. Or the Commons rejects it."

He also labelled the agreement a "halfway house which is beloved by neither Remainers nor Leavers", adding: "We might be technically 'out', but it would not be an equal partnership. It would leave the UK effectively bound to the EU and their rules."

The Tory also attacked the EU, stating it "wants to back the UK's national will".

He added: "This, not Brexit, would be the true disaster for our country."