DOMINIC Raab has made clear the Brexit talks have to conclude by the end of November as he suggested the UK Government might be willing to extend the transition period – a move which would spark a serious rebellion by Scottish Conservatives.

The SNP revealed that their Westminster leader Ian Blackford has written to Theresa May demanding the Prime Minister set aside tomorrow’s business in the Commons for a full day’s debate on Brexit, saying she could no longer “duck and dive” on scrutiny over the talks with Brussels.

Appearing on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, the Brexit Secretary stressed that any further delay in getting a deal beyond the end of next month could lead to “practical implications” at Westminster for getting any agreed deal through the parliamentary process in time for Brexit Day in March 2019.

He said: “We need to have done it by towards the end of November,” explaining: “If it went any distance beyond that we would have a problem with implementing a deal and it would almost be the worst-case scenario; we had a deal but we couldn’t implement it in time.”

Mr Raab called for goodwill and "a bit of oomph on both sides" to get the exit deal over the line.

The Brexit Secretary went on to say that any backstop arrangement to keep the Irish border open could not be permanent, yet he did not mention there would have to be a specific end date.

He said: “It would be rather odd if we ended up in that bridging temporary mechanism without a route out; it could be time-limited, there could be another mechanism.

“I probably wouldn’t call it an ejector seat but there needs to be something which allows us to control how long we are there for to avoid any sense that we are left indefinitely in a sort of customs union limbo; that wouldn’t be acceptable.”

But the Secretary of State noted how the UK could extend the transition period during which time the UK would continue to be effectively in the single market and customs union as an alternative to a Northern Ireland backstop plan.

“I’m open-minded about using a short extension of the implementation period, let’s say three months,” added Mr Raab.

However, Scottish Conservatives are bitterly opposed to any extension however short because – given quotas are set in December for the following year - this would mean another 12 months for British fishermen shadowing the loathed Common Fisheries Policy.

Last week, David Mundell, the Scottish Secretary, contacted No 10 to express his concerns, insisting that any extension to the 21-month transition period had to have an opt-out for the fishing industry from the CFP. Yet, Scottish Tory MPs have privately admitted it would be highly unlikely the EU27 would agree to this.

Some of them have already warned the party whips that they could not accept a transition extension without the fishing exemption and they would be prepared to vote against the Government, even possibly voting down the Chancellor’s Budget, such is the strength of feeling.

Having initially told the fishing industry - most of which is north of the border - the UK would take back control of its waters on Brexit Day, this was pushed back to the end of the transition period in December 2020; any further extension to December 2021, more than five years after the referendum vote would smack of betrayal, some Scottish Tory MPs believe.

Douglas Ross, the Tory MP for Moray, told the BBC's Sunday Politics Scotland programme: "I could not support a deal that would include staying in the Common Fisheries Policy beyond December 2020."

He added: “What's important is that we send out a very strong signal to everyone who is negotiating on behalf of the UK that this is an issue that is extremely important for our Scottish communities that we represent.

"My view is it will not come to that [a hard Brexit rather than staying in the CFP]. They[the UK Government] will see that there is a very clear, distinct message from the Scottish Conservatives, and indeed Scotland, that we cannot have the CFP."

With Mrs May facing growing unease among her backbenchers with one saying she is “drinking in the last chance saloon,” Mr Raab urged unity and that Tory MPs should pull together and “play for the team”.

Labour’s Keir Starmer observed: “I don’t think anybody thinks this 30-year civil war in the Tory Party is going to end before Christmas.

“What we’re going to see is even if there’s a deal, the Tory Party will try to rip it up next year. Some of them are already saying they’re going to do that.”

The Shadow Brexit Secretary added: “So this idea of an historic moment before Christmas in the national interest isn’t going to happen. They will not stop fighting about this.”

Meanwhile, Mr Blackford also told Sunday Politics Scotland that following the failure of the PM to end the deadlock at last week’s EU summit it was now vital that MPs were afforded the time to properly scrutinise the current state of Brexit negotiations.

“We are more than two years on from the referendum and we find ourselves in the extraordinary position whereby the EU, the devolved governments, opposition parties and businesses are still none the wiser over what the Tory Government’s plans are to resolve some of the biggest challenges in these negotiations.

“The Prime Minister can no longer duck and dive parliamentary scrutiny and following the chaotic conclusion of the EU summit and her failure to end the deadlock it is vital that Theresa May does not just solely deliver a statement but schedules a full day debate in Westminster tomorrow so that MPs are afforded the time to scrutinise the current state of the Brexit talks.”

The Highland MP added: “These are deeply worrying times, our future relationship with the EU is being worked out against a backdrop of a Tory civil war with little regard to the detrimental impact on jobs and prosperity. It is a failure of leadership, however it is not too late for the Commons to be able to have its say.”