Theresa May attacks warring MPs over Brexit stalemate

THERESA May last night launched a furious attack on warring MPs over the Brexit stalemate — as she assured voters: “I’m on your side.”

The PM spoke to the nation from Downing Street to explain why Brexit looks certain to be delayed and laid the blame squarely on Parliament.

She said she would be giving MPs one final chance to pass her EU deal, which they have twice rejected overwhelmingly.

Mrs May told the public: “You want this stage of the Brexit process to be over and done with. I agree. It is now time for MPs to decide.”

Her declaration came as EU chiefs laid down the gauntlet to MPs by insisting they will only grant Mrs May a short Brexit delay IF the Commons passes her deal next week.

The ultimatum teed up the real chance of a cliff edge No Deal Brexit on the originally scheduled March 29 exit in just eigtht days time.

The PM ignited Westminster uproar yesterday by formally requesting a three month EU membership extension until June 30.

You want this stage of the Brexit process to be over and done with. I agree. It is now time for MPs to decide.

But in a boost for the PM’s leverage on winning round diehard Brexiteers to back her deal, EU Council chief Donald Tusk also held up the prospect of a year-long delay if the agreement is voted down a third time next week.

Addressing the nation live from No10 at 8.30pm last night, Mrs May dubbed her three month delay “a matter of great personal regret for me”.

But she added: “Of this I am absolutely sure: you the public have had enough. You are tired of the infighting. You are tired of the political games and arcane procedural rows.

“Tired of MPs talking about nothing else but Brexit when you have real concerns about our children’s schools, our National Health Service, and knife crime.”

Also on another day of extraordinary drama in Westminster yesterday;

The PM snubbed a Westminster showdown with Tory MPs amid rumours they would push for a “show of hands” over her future
It emerged that Remainer MPs are mounting a desperate fresh bid to seize control of the Brexit timetable from the Government to enforce a long delay if her deal falls again next week.
The PM was given fresh hope of a majority for her deal as more Labour MPs said they may back it under a compromise deal with No10 to give them more say in the next stage of negotiations for a future trade deal.
More than 3,500 troops will be put on ‘immediate’ No Deal standby from Monday if talks with the EU on a Brexit extension collapse.
Jeremy Corbyn walked out of Brexit talks with Theresa May – as ex-Labour MP Chuka Umunna was there.

Mrs May’s attack on rebel MPs triggered a backlash from many last night.

Her former Universities Minister Sam Gyimah said: “Democracy loses when a PM sets herself against the House of Commons then blames MPs for doing their job.”

Mr Tusk, president of the European Council, said in Brussels this evening: "A short extension will be possible but it will be conditional on a positive vote on the withdrawal agreement in the House of Commons."

His comments raise the prospect of a do-or-die Commons showdown next week, with MPs forced to choose between swallowing the PM's deal - even after rejecting it twice - or quitting without any deal on March 29.

Conservative MP Bob Seely said: "Sounds like Deal or No Deal next week."

Mr Tusk did not mention the possibility of a long extension - but he has previously spoken in favour of delaying Brexit by up to two years, suggesting the EU could still swoop in at the last minute to put Article 50 on ice for months to come.

Tory Brexiteers will seize the opportunity to go for a No Deal outcome by rejecting the PM's deal again next week.

Mark Francois told Sky News: "If the EU don't give us an extension and her deal is voted down again, then we are free - that is what I am fighting for."

'DEAL OR NO DEAL'
But dozens of Remainer MPs could flock to Mrs May's side in a bid to avoid what they see as the worst-case scenario.

Any extension must be signed off by every one of the other 27 EU leaders at the European Council summit starting tomorrow, giving a veto to each country.

French media reported that Emmanuel Macron is so sick of the ongoing drama that he will block a delay at the upcoming European Council summit.

Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, suggested the request to delay could be rejected this week but then approved at an emergency EU summit next week.

He told German radio: "We will probably have to meet again next week, because Mrs May has not got agreement for anything either in her Cabinet or her Parliament. As long as we don't know what Great Britain will say yes to, we can't come to a resolution."

The top Eurocrat added: "If Great Britain does not leave at the end of March, then we are, I am sorry to say, in the hands of God. And I think even God sometimes reaches a limit to his patience.

"We are not in a state of war with the UK, but a state of negotiation. But the negotiations are finished."