A Brexit delay is now 'unavoidable' even if MPs back a deal next week, the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier has warned.
Barnier backed up the private positions of many of the Remainers in Theresa May's Cabinet by saying she does not have time to make a deal.
Theresa May has threatened MPs in recent weeks to back her 'meaningful vote' on March 12 or risk further delaying Brexit or a no-deal scenario.
Barnier told Spain's El Mundo that Brussels would not green light a Brexit deal on March 29 even if Parliament reached an agreement.
The EU's chief negotiator has slapped down Mrs May's notion of securing a withdrawal by March 29, suggesting she take a two month extension
The Prime Minister warned MPs that they would need to back her deal if they wanted to avoid a delay to Article 50 or to avoid a no-deal situation
Mr Barnier suggested a 'technical extension' of up to two months would be needed.
Referencing a technical extension, Mr Barnier added: 'But you'll have to ask the United Kingdom. If there is a vote on the 12th and it takes two months to carry out the procedure, it would be justified.'
Mrs May has said that if her deal is rejected by Parliament, MPs will be able to vote on whether the UK can leave the EU in a no-deal scenario, and if that is rejected, the Commons can decide on whether to extend Article 50 and delay Brexit for a limited period.
Today the leader of the Commons Andrea Leadsom and Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt issued a joint warning to the Prime Minister over colleagues they believe are poised to delay or block Article 50 altogether.
The pair write in the Sunday Telegraph: 'The active pursuit of a delay to Brexit - with no purpose beyond frustration - is a betrayal of the referendum result.'
They say this would be an 'irretrievable breach of trust' to those who voted Brexit but also warned against the ruptures that would be caused by a no-deal. The news comes as Mr Barnier said Brussels was ready to give further 'guarantees, assurances and clarifications' that the Irish backstop should only be temporary.
The backstop has been a sticking point for Brexiteers who see it as undermining the very sovereignty the UK stands to gain through leaving the EU.
Mr Barnier insisted that the controversial measure, intended to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland, will not be removed from the Withdrawal Agreement.
While acknowledging Brexiteer concerns that the backstop is a trap that would keep the UK tied to the EU indefinitely, Mr Barnier insisted it is only 'insurance' intended for the 'worst-case scenario'.
Speaking to German newspaper Die Welt, Mr Barnier said: 'We know that there are misgivings in Britain that the backstop could keep Britain forever connected to the EU.
'This is not the case. And we are ready to give further guarantees, assurances and clarifications that the backstop should only be temporary.'
The guarantees in question could come as an adjunct to the Withdrawal Agreement in the form of an 'interpretive document', he said.
EU Chief Brexit Negotiator Michel Barnier attends a joint news conference with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz in Vienna, Austria last week
Mrs May is facing divisions across the House and in her own Cabinet as she struggles to get her deal over the line Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss warned on Friday that a new Brexit referendum would provoke a 'massive crisis'.
She also indicated that a no-deal exit could be better than a delay.
Ms Truss told the BBC: 'I think it would be an absolute disaster if we had a second referendum after people voted so clearly to leave the European Union.
'There will be a massive crisis in this nation. And it would be terrible for business. It would leave us continuing in this limbo period.'
The EU's chief negotiator has slapped down Mrs May's notion of securing a withdrawal by March 29, suggesting she take a two month extension
The Prime Minister warned MPs that they would need to back her deal if they wanted to avoid a delay to Article 50 or to avoid a no-deal situationMr Barnier suggested a 'technical extension' of up to two months would be needed.Referencing a technical extension, Mr Barnier added: 'But you'll have to ask the United Kingdom. If there is a vote on the 12th and it takes two months to carry out the procedure, it would be justified.'Mrs May has said that if her deal is rejected by Parliament, MPs will be able to vote on whether the UK can leave the EU in a no-deal scenario, and if that is rejected, the Commons can decide on whether to extend Article 50 and delay Brexit for a limited period.Today the leader of the Commons Andrea Leadsom and Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt issued a joint warning to the Prime Minister over colleagues they believe are poised to delay or block Article 50 altogether.The pair write in the Sunday Telegraph: 'The active pursuit of a delay to Brexit - with no purpose beyond frustration - is a betrayal of the referendum result.'They say this would be an 'irretrievable breach of trust' to those who voted Brexit but also warned against the ruptures that would be caused by a no-deal. The news comes as Mr Barnier said Brussels was ready to give further 'guarantees, assurances and clarifications' that the Irish backstop should only be temporary.The backstop has been a sticking point for Brexiteers who see it as undermining the very sovereignty the UK stands to gain through leaving the EU.Mr Barnier insisted that the controversial measure, intended to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland, will not be removed from the Withdrawal Agreement.While acknowledging Brexiteer concerns that the backstop is a trap that would keep the UK tied to the EU indefinitely, Mr Barnier insisted it is only 'insurance' intended for the 'worst-case scenario'.Speaking to German newspaper Die Welt, Mr Barnier said: 'We know that there are misgivings in Britain that the backstop could keep Britain forever connected to the EU.'This is not the case. And we are ready to give further guarantees, assurances and clarifications that the backstop should only be temporary.'The guarantees in question could come as an adjunct to the Withdrawal Agreement in the form of an 'interpretive document', he said.
EU Chief Brexit Negotiator Michel Barnier attends a joint news conference with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz in Vienna, Austria last week
Mrs May is facing divisions across the House and in her own Cabinet as she struggles to get her deal over the line Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss warned on Friday that a new Brexit referendum would provoke a 'massive crisis'.She also indicated that a no-deal exit could be better than a delay.Ms Truss told the BBC: 'I think it would be an absolute disaster if we had a second referendum after people voted so clearly to leave the European Union.'There will be a massive crisis in this nation. And it would be terrible for business. It would leave us continuing in this limbo period.'
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