You're listening to a podcast from the BBC World Service. This is Hard Talk with me, Stephen Sacker.

Thanks for downloading this edition of the program. I do hope you enjoy it.

Welcome to Hard Talk on the BBC World Service with me, Stephen Sacker.

Britain is on the brink of a political crisis, the like of which hasn't been seen in generations.

At stake is Britain's future relationship with its closest neighbours in Europe,

but also its long-term economic and political direction and its very sense of itself and its place in the wider world.

Two and a half years after a narrow majority voted in favour

of leaving the EU and after months of tortured negotiation, Prime Minister Theresa May is about

to ask Parliament to approve her compromise Brexit deal. If approved, it will see the UK

leave at the end of March 2019, but remain closely tied to the EU.

Indeed, inside a customs union at least until December 2020 and possibly longer.

She says it's a deal which delivers Brexit and safeguards the British economy.

Her opponents say it is a worst of all world's fudge.

Her problem is that her own Conservative Party is deeply divided. And as things stand, she doesn't

have the votes to get her deal through, which means a huge burden of responsibility rests on

MPs like my guest today. Owen Patterson, a former Conservative

Minister who says he cannot and will not support Mrs May's deal. But what is the alternative?

And how ready is he to plunge Britain into political chaos? Well, Owen Patterson joins me now.

Welcome to Hard Talk. Thank you very much for inviting me.

These are the most extraordinary, febrile days in British politics. And every day, there is a new

effort by Theresa May and her key cabinet colleagues to persuade people like you to rally behind her

and support her deal with the EU 27.

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