The EU has demanded a “credible justification” before it can grant any request to delay Brexit, suggesting Theresa May may have to pivot to a softer deal or call an election or referendum.
The prime minister is now highly likely to be forced by MPs to seek an extension of the Article 50 withdrawal process beyond March 29 after her Brexit deal was defeated in the Commons by a 149 vote majority.
MPs now look likely to reject a no-deal Brexit in a vote on Wednesday before ordering May to seek an extension Article 50 in another vote on Thursday.
But May was warned by European Council President Donald Tusk that the EU will give no further ground, insisting through his spokesman that “if there is a solution to the current impasse, it can only be found in London”.
It raised the possibility of May being forced by the EU to forge a cross-party compromise, with the most likely solution to gain Labour support being either a softer Brexit including customs union membership or a second referendum.
Following the vote, Tusk’s spokesman said: “We regret the outcome of tonight’s vote and are disappointed that the UK government has been unable to ensure a majority for the withdrawal agreement agreed by both parties in November.
“On the EU side we have done all that is possible to reach an agreement. Given the additional assurances provided by the EU in December, January and yesterday, it is difficult to see what more we can do.
“If there is a solution to the current impasse, it can only be found in London.
“The EU, for its part, continues to stand by the withdrawal agreement, including the backstop, which serves to prevent a hard border in Ireland and preserve the integrity of the single market unless and until alternative arrangements can be found.
“With only 17 days left to March 29, today’s vote has significantly increased the likelihood of a no-deal Brexit. We will continue our no-deal preparations and ensure that we will be ready if such a scenario arises.
“Should there be a UK reasoned request for an extension, the EU27 will consider it and decide by unanimity.
“The EU27 will expect a credible justification for a possible extension and its duration. The smooth functioning of the EU institutions will need to be ensured.”
Brussels chief negotiator Michel Barnier meanwhile said the EU had “done everything” to help May pass her deal and suggested no-deal preparations were “now more important than ever”.
Tory Brexiteer MPs however insisted they thought the EU was bluffing.
Following a meeting of the European Research Group (ERG) just before the vote on May’s deal, Anne-Marie Trevelyan told HuffPost UK she believed the EU could still give ground in negotiations on the so-called Malthouse compromise plan backed by many Tories.
“I don’t believe that this is the last turn of the wheel for them,” she said.
“I used to buy and sell companies, that’s how you do things, you push until you find a point where everyone can live with it.”
Ex-cabinet minister Theresa Villiers added: “I still believe that there are prospects for a deal, there is an EU Council on 20-21st, the EU is notorious for taking things up to the wire and they must have known there was a serious possibility of this revised arrangement being voted down so I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they had something up their sleeves.”