AS Parliament gathers for the big Brexit deal vote tonight, Swindon businesses and politicians are crossing their fingers and hoping that the Prime Minister will get her way.

With only 74 days to go before the UK leaves the EU, Theresa May’s best-laid plans will be put to a vital vote at the House of Commons.

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson said: “I will be supporting the PM’s deal. It delivers on the referendum, takes back control of money, borders and laws. The deal protects jobs and security, certainty for businesses and families.

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“The deal is backed by major local employers including Honda, BMW and WHSmith and I hope colleagues will reflect on the need to deliver the democratic will of the British public.”

Coun David Renard, leader of Swindon Borough Council, said: “I really hope that enough MPs get behind the PM’s deal and get it through because businesses in Swindon clearly want certainty and made it clear that, while it’s not perfect, this deal will ensure that their businesses will continue to thrive.

“I’m delighted that the two Swindon MPs are doing the right thing and backing the PM.

“However, I suspect that this will probably be defeated because I’m not confident that enough MPs will put the country before their own personal or party interests.

“The only alternatives are no Brexit, which would be a constitutional nightmare, or no deal, which would cause significant problems for businesses in the medium-term, though they would recover.”

One Royal Wootton Bassett firm, Imagine Cruising tried to soothe post Brexit uncertainty by offering assurances on its website. It wrote: “Even if Britain decides to leave the EU in a no-deal scenario, there is still nothing to suggest that travel plans won’t go ahead as planned as the European Union and UK government have said that flights to and from the UK will operate as normal.”

Matt Griffiths, director of policy at Business West, said: “For Swindon and the south west, our automotive, aerospace and advanced manufacturing supply chains are big concerns, and no deal would be extremely damaging to the long-term future of many of these sectors.

“The biggest concern is to try and avoid no deal and secure a transition period, as firms simply don’t have the time, at this late stage, to properly prepare for any alternative to a deal.

“There will potentially be a big loss of confidence if May’s deal gets voted down. Firms will be looking to MPs to rise above party political factions.”