UK Brexit laws rebel says 'We could collapse government' while minister holds firm

LONDON, June 17 (Reuters) - A leading pro-European Union British Conservative lawmaker on Sunday warned that the government could collapse over a clash about the amount of influence parliament has over the Brexit process, but said he hoped to find a way to avoid that.

"We could collapse the government, and I can assure you I wake up at 2 a.m. in a cold sweat thinking about the problems we have put on our shoulders," said Dominic Grieve, the lawmaker negotiating with the government on the final wording of the laws that will end Britain's European Union membership.

The minister leading those negotiations, Solicitor General Robert Buckland, said the ruling minority Conservative government was standing by its own proposal, rejected by party rebels last week. (Reporting by William James; editing by Jason Neely)