Senior Conservative backbencher Sir Graham Brady has told the BBC that he could accept a delay to Brexit – as long as a deal was already agreed.

He said a short delay to the 29 March exit date would be acceptable if needed to get legislation through Parliament.

The government says its position has not changed on the date but Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has suggested “extra time” may be needed.

MPs rejected a bid to postpone Brexit if no deal was reached by 26 February.

That amendment, from the Labour MP Yvette Cooper, would have delayed the 29 March departure date by several months, but it was voted down by 321 to 298 on Tuesday.

But Sir Graham, chairman of the influential 1922 Committee of Conservative backbenchers, told Nick Robinson’s Political Thinking podcast, the Cooper amendment “would have been deeply counter-productive because it moves off the decision point”.

Putting off the decision would only lead to more uncertainty, he said.