Ashford MP Damian Green says the Prime Minister has given an assurance the party will not contest a general election on a commitment to push for a no-deal Brexit.

The MP led a delegation of members of the One Nation Caucus to Downing Street to voice their concerns that at an election, the party was intending to stand on an explicit pledge to leave the EU with no agreement.

There is growing speculation there could be a snap poll if, as expected, the deadline of October 31 is reached with no agreement.

After the meeting, Mr Green said the Prime Minister had indicated the manifesto would not incorporate any such commitment.

Speaking on ITV’s “Peston” show, he said:“To have no-deal as the main purpose of Brexit policy would be wrong and unacceptable, he assured us that he continued to look for a deal. Clearly there is ambiguity about a no-deal because you need two sides to agree but it is still on the table.To fight off the Brexit party by adopting its only policy would be foolish.”

“The PM agreed with us that he doesn’t see no-deal in that manifesto. So I think we can be confident that the idea that a government would go in to a general election saying what we want is no deal will not be the Conservative Party policy.”

Meanwhile, the Women’s Equality Party has announced it is to field a candidate in Dover at a general election. It is one of five seats it plans to contest.

The party is targeting constituencies where there have been allegations against sitting MPs of harassment or assault.

The Dover MP Charlie Elphicke has pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual assault against two women.

Candidate Eljai Morais says she will campaign for tougher action on domestic abuse.

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