THE leading Brexiteer in the British cabinet has warned of another EU referendum if MPs reject the prime minister's deal.
Michael Gove insisted the government can win the crucial vote on Theresa May's Brexit deal, despite scores of Tory MPs threatening to vote against it.
His comments came as former US Secretary of State John Kerry warned it was "imperative" to resolve issues surrounding the border in a way that does not reignite the Troubles.
As MPs prepare to begin five days of debate ahead of the vote on December 11, Mr Gove acknowledged it would be "challenging" to get it through.
While he accepted the deal was not "perfect", he said the alternative was either "no deal or no Brexit".
Downing Street will hope that the intervention of Mr Gove will help persuade some Brexiteers to back the agreement.
The environment secretary said the most difficult element was the Northern Ireland "backstop", intended to prevent the return of a hard border with the Republic.
"There is a real risk if we don't vote for this deal there may be a majority in the House of Commons for a second referendum," he warned.
Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer said it was "inevitable" Labour would move a vote of no confidence in the government if the deal was voted down.
Meanwhile, John Kerry addressed the issue of Brexit during an event in the US to mark the twentieth anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
The one-time presidential candidate was joined by members from the north's five main parties at Yale University.
"Under the Stormont Agreement, the last 20 years have been characterised by a border which people have been able to cross easily," Mr Kerry said.
"I have concerns that depending on what kind of Brexit takes place it could have a negative impact on the progress made in the last 20 years.
"It could re-heat passions one way or the other or both depending on what it is. It's imperative that it's resolved in a way that it does not reignite the Troubles."
