Why is the prime minister considering a free vote for her MPs over a no-deal Brexit?

Analysis: The question is not whether Theresa May faces defeat, but whether she can avoid disaster, as Sean O'Grady explains

Can Ms May avoid utter humiliation over the no-deal option? (AFP)

Normally, prime ministers do not like to rely on free votes – ones where the party managers, the whips, allow their party’s MPs to follow their consciences.

Governments prefer to use the traditional weapons of discipline and patronage to incentivise their MPs to vote in line with official policy.

There may be rebels, but they can be dealt with in a variety of ways, depending on the seriousness of a revolt. If they are ministers they would be expected to resign, or get sacked.