Brussels rules out further backstop concessions after Theresa May’s deal is overwhelmingly rejected

BRUSSELS on Tuesday night ruled out any further concessions on the backstop after Theresa May’s deal was overwhelmingly rejected by MPs.

Council chief Donald Tusk said the EU had “done all that is possible” to reach an agreement and a solution “can only be found in London”.

And he warned Remainer MPs the bloc will only approve an extension to Article 50 if the UK provides a “credible justification” for it.

His spokesman said: “On the EU side we have done all that is possible to reach an agreement.

“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.

“With only 17 days left to 29 March, last night’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.”

The bloc’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier added: “The EU has done everything it can to help get the Withdrawal Agreement over the line.

“The impasse can only be solved in the UK. Our no-deal preparations are now more important than ever before.”

JEAN-CLAUDE’S BREXIT ‘REVERSAL’ JAB

And Commission boss Jean-Claude Juncker warned MPs there “wouldn’t be a third” chance to renegotiate the deal.

His spokesman added that MPs rejecting the agreement had “increased the possibility” of Brexit being reversed in a thinly veiled swipe at the ERG.

Berlin also ruled out further talks, with Angela Merkel describing the offer made by Brussels on backstop assurances as “clear and far-reaching”.

The country’s Europe minister, Michael Roth, warned: “I don’t see further chances of negotiations.”

EU diplomats on Tuesday night openly questioned how the PM can carry on and said the huge scale of the defeat squashed any possibility of further compromises.

One told The Sun: “We’ve gone as far as we can go with this. Without a stable majority for whatever deal there’s little point negotiating anymore.”

Earlier Mr Barnier had accused MPs of having “dangerous illusions” about No Deal and not understanding the Brexit process properly.

The Frenchman blasted politicians who said the UK could still have a transition period even if it refuses to sign the Withdrawal Agreement.

And it emerged Brussels is considering handing Britain a lengthy extension to sort out its internal divisions.

The bloc’s top civil servant, Martin Selmayr, told ambassadors a long delay could be justified to allow time for a General Election or second referendum.

He said an extension until the end of the year would be needed in such circumstances.

But it could stretch up to the end of next year if there are complications surrounding the appointment of the next Commission in November.

An EU diplomat told The Sun many Member States were likely to favour a shorter prolongation to “get Brexit over and done with”.

They said: “More and more are saying let’s go for a clean break and after the turmoil has died down we can start building again.”

Capitals could also consider a very short extension of just two weeks to force MPs into immediately voting on the deal again under the spotlight of No Deal.

Alternatively, many in Brussels believe the bloc will authorise a delay until the end of May, with the time being used to finalise No Deal planning.

EU sources say the bloc will approve such a short prolongation of Article 50 no matter what in order to avoid being blamed for a No Deal outcome.

A senior EU diplomat said: “With the whole blame game I don’t see the EU not extending and allowing the UK to say ‘we just needed a few more weeks’.”

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