THE Bishop of Oxford has urged MPs to set aside the temptations of self-interest and pursuit of short-term power as they prepare to vote tomorrow on Theresa May’s Brexit deal.

Rt Rev Steven Croft said he voted in the 2016 referendum to remain in the European Union.

But he added that people now needed to honour the outcome of the referendum and reunite the country around a fresh vision of the UK’s relationship with the European Union.

He added: “The United Kingdom, Europe and the world will have their eyes on Westminster as the House of Commons and the House of Lords debate the future direction of our nation and our key relationships in the world.”

He said a key temptation for MPs would be to allow themselves to be ‘shaped by self-interest and personal ambition’.

The Bishop added: “The Brexit debate has been marred from the beginning, it seems, by the narrow calculation of those hoping to gain or retain high office.

“Nothing has undermined trust in our politics more than the unsavoury smell of this ambition which is apparent to all.”

Rt Rev Croft said another key danger for MPs was to allow themselves to be swayed by narrow party interest and the pursuit or retention of power in the short term.

He said: “The issues at stake are much greater than the rise and fall of particular parties. We need our MPs and peers to act now in the greater national interest.”