Britain cannot stay in the current customs union with the European Union, said Conservative party chairman Thursday after Theresa May won the confidence vote, he also ruled out a second referendum because striking international trade deals after Brexit should be the priority.

Brandon Lewis, the chairman of Conservative party, confirmed that meetings would be held on Thursday between senior members of the government and colleagues across the House of Commons to try and find a compromise Brexit deal.

"As a set of principles, one of the things we need to be able to do ... is the ability to do those international trade deals, to be able to trade globally around the world, and have an independent trade policy, that means we can't stay in the current EU customs union," he told BBC radio.

"We do not think a second referendum is the right way to go," he then warned that "No deal is where we end up if nothing else happens." but Lewis assured that there will be talks with senior members across the house. "We will listen to what people have to say," he said.

Later, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair made similar warning by saying that, "Leaving without a deal would do profound damage to the UK economy." Considering the current stalemate, "an extension to Article 50 is inevitable," said Blair. 

Prime Minister Theresa May won a confidence vote with 325 to 306 in the British parliament on Wednesday. Required by the parliament, May's government needs to offer a Plan B within three days after her Brexit deal got rejected. Lawmakers from across the political divide are gathering together to try to break the impasse on the Brexit divorce agreement.

(Cover: Brandon Lewis arrives in Downing Street, London, Britain, December 18, 2018.  /VCG Photo)