Hard Brexit would be 'infinitely worse' for the UK than the EU, says Dutch PM

Warning comes as 19 MPs write to Theresa May urging her to ignore the Brexiteers in her cabinet

A hard Brexit would have an "infinitely" bigger impact on the UK than the EU, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has said.

Speaking in Dublin, where he met Irish premier Leo Varadkar, Mr Rutte underlined the importance of securing a good deal on the issue of the Irish border, saying it was "essential".

However, he said the other two major issues in Brexit negotiations - the UK's settlement bill and guarantees of citizens' rights - were equally important.

Achieving enough progress to allow talks to progress to their second phase, which concerns the UK's future relationship with the EU, was difficult but achievable, he added.

The Irish border has proved to be a sticking point in talks, but Mr Varadkar said on Wednesday evening that Theresa May had told him she would propose suggestions to Brexit negotiators in the next 24 hours to try to break the impasse.

British negotiators hoped to have achieved sufficient progress to convince EU leaders to agree to talks progressing when the meet at the European Council summit on 14 and 15 December.

"We discussed the idea certainly," Mr Varadkar told a news conference, "but we didn't discuss any particular words or combination of words or language."

"I certainly indicated a willingness to consider any proposals that the UK side have."

"Having consulted with people in London, she wants to come back to us with some text tonight or tomorrow. I expressed my willingness to consider that because I want us to move to phase two if that is possible next week."

Meanwhile, a group of 19 Tory MPs have written to Theresa May to condemn "highly irresponsible" Brexit-backing colleagues who "seek to dictate terms" which could lead to Britain leaving the European Union with no deal.

They said those who suggest leaving the EU without an exit or trade deal with the UK "deliberately" miss warnings of the uncertainty expats would face, higher prices for consumers and disruption at the border.