THERESA May delayed a crucial vote on her Brexit deal by MPs and was accused of “cowardice” and disrespecting democracy.

The Prime Minister abandoned plans after it became clear the deal would be heavily defeated with around 100 Conservative MPs set to join the opposition parties in rejecting her deal.

Defeat would have seriously undermined her position and could have led to a leadership challenge and possibly a General Election.

The Prime Minister admitted she would have lost the vote.

Mrs May said it had become clear to her that MPs had concerns over the deal, particularly the arrangements for the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

She said she will go back to the EU to seek changes to the deal in a bid to “reassure” MPs who signalled they would vote it down.

However, despite repeated questions from opposition MPs, she refused to say when she would return with a new deal and when MPs would get the chance to vote on it.

She was branded a coward by the SNP who called for a second referendum to be held.

Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister, said delaying the vote was “a watershed moment and an act of pathetic cowardice by a Tory government which has run out of road and is now collapsing into utter chaos.”

Kirsty Blackman, SNP Deputy Westminster leader, said in the House of Commons delaying the vote was an “abdication of responsibility”.

She said: “Members across this house don’t want your deal. The EU won’t re-negotiate. Isn’t it the only option to put it back to the people.”

The Prime minister face several further calls for a second vote or a People’s Vote on the deal from opposition MPs but she refused to entertain the idea.

She was also asked if she would revoke Article 50, the notice given to leave the EU after the European Court of Justice said it was possible to do so.

She said: “The people decided and we should deliver on it. Revoking Article 50 would be going back on the referendum result.”

Even if Mrs May is able to convince her own party’s MPs to back a deal with “re-assurances”, she will need the support of either a number of Labour MPs or the ten DUP MPs who she relies on for a majority in the Commons.

Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn said the country has “endured two years of shambolic negotiations.”

And she was given a warning from the Northern Irish unionist party that her deal is not acceptable.

Nigel Dodds DUP MP said “It is an impossible position. The Prime Minister doesn’t get it. The withdrawal agreement is unacceptable to this house. Come back with changes to the Withdrawal agreement or it will be voted down.”

MPs were due to vote on the deal just 24 hours after the Prime Minister announced it was to be delayed.

The Speaker of the House John Bercow criticised the government for preventing a vote at such a late stage after days of debate.

Bercow said: “Halting the debate after no fewer than 164 colleagues have taken the trouble to contribute will be thought by many members of this House to be deeply discourteous.”

Mrs May said she believed that it was possible to get the changes needed to win a majority of MPs to support it.

The Prime Minister now however, faces having to seek the approval of the EU to begin talks to make changes to the deal.

Senior EU politicians have already signalled that the deal they agreed is the only possible deal.

European Leaders are due to meet on Thursday for a European Summit and the Prime Minister intends to start discussions before then.

She said: “I will discuss with them the clear concerns that this House has expressed.”