Prime Minister Theresa May has insisted that only her proposed “Chequers” EU deal can protect the car industry.

And she said a Canada-style trade deal, such as the one proposed by Tory rival Boris Johnson, would not deal with the concerns raised by carmakers such as Jaguar Land Rover.

They have warned that they depend on “frictionless” trade with the EU, which means parts must be imported into the UK without delays at borders, in order to prevent factories grinding to a halt.

Speaking exclusively to BirminghamLive at the Conservative conference in Birmingham, Mrs May said: “It is a message that has come through loud and clear.”

The manufacturing method used by big carmakers is called “just in time”, because it depends on bringing components into factories just as they are needed.

Mrs May said: “A number of industries, but particularly the automotive industry here in the West Midlands and elsewhere across the country, have been very clear about the importance of ‘just in time’ supply chains for them.

“The only plan on the table at the moment that has at its core a way of addressing that is the Chequers plan.

“The only plan on the table at the moment that has that core of a free trade area and frictionless trade is Chequers.”

British Prime Minister Theresa May and Chancellor Of The Exchequer Philip Hammond chat to apprentices during a visit to the adi group in Kings Norton

Her proposed EU deal is opposed by some critics within the party, and former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has called on the UK to ask for a trade deal similar to the one already in place between the EU and Canada.

But Mrs May said: “The Canada-style free trade agreement actually introduces regulatory and customs checks at borders, so that doesn’t deal with the issue of taking away that potential friction and enabling that smooth running across the border.”

However, Mrs May repeated her warnings that she “won’t accept a deal that is a bad deal for the UK” - including the current proposal on offer from the EU

She said: “I am not prepared to see our country broken up.

“And the offer on the table from the EU about a basic trade agreement is one that would only be for Great Britain. It would effectively carve Northern Ireland way from the rest of the UK.”

Mrs May described an increase in violent crime as “worrying”.

But she said police were being given new tools to get crime down, including tougher laws to outlaw knives and other offensive weapons

Official figures show the number of violent crimes recorded by West Midlands Police rose from 42,280 in the 12 months up to December 2010, to 52,176 in the 12 months up to December 2017.

Speaking to BirminghamLive, the Prime Minister said: “Overall crime has come down.

“But obviously there is this worrying rise we’ve seen in certain areas in relation to violent crime and knife crime in particular.”

She said people found guilty of knife offences are now more likely to be prosecuted, and to spend longer in prison.

“As well as the serious violence strategy, we are introducing the offensive weapons bill, which will increase some of the powers available to police and increase the ability to take action to prevent some of these particularly concerning knives getting into the hands of young people.”

Mrs May insisted police forces were enjoying an increase in funding - despite warnings that cuts have forced them to reduce officer numbers.

Dave Thompson, Chief Constable of West Midlands Police, delivered a striking message to the Government last year, when he said police "might break" if they face further cuts.

Funding from the Home Office was cut for many years and how has now been frozen, which means it's still being cut in real terms.

However, forces can raise extra cash by increasing the police precept added to council tax bills.

Mrs May insisted: “What matters to police forces is the total amount of money available to it.

“Extra money is available to police forces this year.”

The Prime Minister said she was “very concerned” about the increase in the number of rough sleepers in many parts of the UK.

She highlighted plans announced during the party conference to increase taxes paid by foreigners who buy property in the UK.

“We have also announced that we are going to be introducing an extra stamp duty charge on foreign buyers of property.

“The money that is raised from that will be additional money that we will use in dealing with rough sleeping.”

Official figures show there are 132 rough sleepers in the West Midlands last year, up from 39 people six years ago.

And that includes 55 people sleeping rough in Birmingham alone, a shocking increase from the figure of just nine rough sleepers recorded in the city in 2010.