Brexit: UK heading for no-deal if MPs reject deal next week, says Macron

The UK will be heading for a no-deal Brexit if MPs reject Theresa May’s deal next week, EU leaders have warned – as they arrived at a summit in Brussels to discuss an extension to Article 50.

French president Emmanuel Macron led the warnings, telling reporters on the doorstep of the meeting that a ‘no’ vote in parliament was effectively a vote for no deal Brexit.

"We have to be clear: we can discuss and agree an extension if it is a technical extension in the case of a ‘yes’ vote. In the case of a 'no' vote, it will guide everybody to a no-deal, for sure,” Mr Macron said.

He added that such an extension could only be a “technical” one shorter than the June 30 one requested by Theresa May, and that and that a longer delay would require “a deep political change” in the UK.

“We cannot have a long-lasting situation where there is no visibility, no purpose, no political majority,” he said.

“There must be a deep political change for there to be anything else other than a technical extension.”

On Wednesday Brussels officials said an extension was a “binary choice” between a short extension until mid-May and a longer extension that went to the end of the year and saw the UK participate in EU elections.

Other EU leaders gave a similar message to Mr Macron. Luxembourgish prime minister Xavier Bettel said: “At the moment, there are more non-options on the table than options... I sometimes have the feeling that we are in the waiting room, a bit like Waiting for Godot. But Godot never came so I hope this time they will come."

“If next week, the UK is not able to find an agreement in the House of Commons, we are going in the direction of a no-deal. I really hope that we will find an agreement.”

“The time is up," said Slovenian prime minister Marjan Sarec. "It's time for decisions. Because we are concerned what the European Union's future would be, not only the UK's.”

Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar described the situation in London as “somewhat chaotic”, while Italian PM Giuseppe Conte said: “We think a short delay could be useful. We need to wait for a new vote in the British parliament.”

None of the leaders mentioned the elephant in the room, however – that the Speaker of the Commons has said the Government cannot bring the deal back for another vote under parliamentary rules.

EU heads of state and government must unanimously approve any extension to Article 50, meaning each one effectively holds a veto. The UK can however unilaterally revoke Article 50 to avoid a no-deal Brexit.

EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier also attended the meeting. He told reporters waiting on the doorstep: “A short extension of the departure date of the UK, chosen by the UK, such an extension should be conditional on a positive vote next week in the House of Commons. We have done our best, now the solution is in London.”

Arriving at the meeting, Theresa May herself said the prospect of a delay was “a matter of regret” for her. She confirmed she would seek an extension until June 30.