Brexit EU summit LIVE: EU leaders issue ultimatum to MPs — back May's deal or get nothing
The prime minister says this is the 'best deal possible' and she will make the case to parliament and to the public
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Your support makes all the difference.EU leaders have challenged MPs to either back Theresa May’s Brexit deal or face up to the economic consequences of crashing out of the bloc.
Heads of its 27 member states took little more than half an hour this morning to rubber-stamp the agreement setting the terms for Britain's departure.
However, the deal now faces a vote in the House of Commons, where the odds appear stacked against it as MPs of all stripes, including a significant portion of the prime minister’s own party, have made their opposition clear.
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Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, warned them the agreement was the “only deal possible” and hopes that a better one could be struck were in vain.
“Those who think by rejecting the deal that they would have a better deal will be disappointed in the first seconds after the rejection of this deal,” he said.
In a veiled plea to MPs Michel Barnier, Europe’s chief negotiator, called on “everyone to face up to their responsibilities”.
Mr Barnier said the deal with the UK was a "necessary step" to advance to the next phase of the negotiations.
"I have worked with my team and negotiated with the UK, never against the UK," he told reporters as he arrived for the summit.
"Now it is time for everybody to take their responsibility. This deal is a necessary step to build the trust between the UK and the EU we need to build.
"The next phase is an unprecedented and ambitious partnership. We will remain allies, partners and friends."
Ms May has written a letter to the British public pleading for the country’s support over the deal.
In her letter she promised a “brighter future” and said that Brexit would be "a moment of renewal and reconciliation for our whole country".
Leo Varadkar has added that the "entire European Union" was of the view that the deal could not be renegotiated.
"It wasn't easy to get to this point," he said.
Mr Varadkar continued: "What's being put in front of EU parliament and House of Commons is a deal. Any other deal really only exists in people's imagination."
Labour MEP Seb Dance calls for the deal to be compared to and debated against the prospect of staying in the European Union.
There will be many in Westminster who agree with him.
At a briefing with Irish media following the special meeting Mr Varadkar said that people should not be focusing on alternative options.
"Let's not forget what we have here, we have an agreement that took between 18 months and two years to negotiate, it is in several parts, is over 500 pages long and as of today has the support of 28 governments," he said.
He added: "Anyone can have a better deal or an alternative deal in their own minds but an agreement 500 pages long that 28 member states can sign up to nobody has that. What's on the table is the only deal that's on the table."
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