The EU's chief Brexit negotiator told Theresa May time was too short to find an alternative to the Irish border arrangement agreed in their Brexit deal and said the divorce deal was not open for renegotiation.
Michel Barnier told France's RTL radio the two-year divorce negotiations had looked for an alternative to the "Irish backstop", designed to ensure the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland remains free of border posts.
"No one, on either side, was able to say what arrangement would be needed to ensure controls on goods, animals and merchandise without having a border," Mr Barnier said. "We have neither the time, nor the technologies."
After a relatively successful night for Ms May during which the government defeated a number of attempts by MPs to secure control of the Brexit process, she will now have the Herculean task of convincing EU leaders to reopen talks.
MPs approved an amendment tabled by Sir Graham Brady by 317 votes to 301 to accept Ms May’s Brexit deal as long as an alternative to the backstop could be found.
But the response from Europe was united and blunt.
"The Withdrawal Agreement is not open for renegotiation," European Council president Donald Tusk tweeted in what he said was a message to Ms May.
"Yesterday, we found out what the UK doesn't want. But we still don't know what the UK does want."
Jeremy Corbyn has said Labour MPs who defied the whip in yesterday’s votes “will be dealt with”, as he holds talks with Ms May on how the Brexit negotiations should move forward.
Mr Corbyn met with the prime minister to discuss how a conensus could be reached on the Brexit negotiations only weeks after he had rejected Ms May’s initial invitiation.
Follow how the day at Westminster unfolded
- Theresa May defeated a number of attempts by MPs to secure control of the Brexit process.
- Government secured a key victory whereby MPs will accept Ms May's Brexit deal as long as an alternative to the backstop could be found.
- MPs did however vote to take no-deal off the table.
- Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn agreed to meet with Theresa May to hold Brexit talks.
- EU leaders ruled out reopening the negotiations.
Jeremy always said that all she needed to do at this stage, she didn't need to actually physically remove it, she didn't need to pass legislation, she just needed to accept that that was the will of the House and that would be what happened.Parliament yesterday explicitly said that they did not want no deal to happen and the Prime Minister, when it came to the summing-up after the debate, accepted that that was the will of the House.
She has said she will be coming back in two weeks' time, she hopes, with something from Europe, but there will be another opportunity at that stage if she has run down the clock further, for a legislative vehicle to then be put in place by Parliament to avoid no-deal."
Theresa May was just given another chance to save her Brexit deal
May is now on a collision course with EU leaders who are adamant there can be no reopening of the withdrawal agreement- Britain will leave with no-deal if nothing is agreed by 29 March but this will be disruptive
- Alternatives to the backstop will be explored
- Theresa May will be meeting with Jeremy Corbyn later today
NHS trusts could "quickly run out of vital medical supplies" should the UK crash out of the European Union without a deal, a hospital boss has claimed.
Dr David Rosser, chief executive of the University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) NHS Foundation Trust, said the service could face a "completely unprecedented challenge" despite central stockpiling.
The points were raised in a memo to the UHB board of directors last week after being asked to draw up details on readiness for a no-deal Brexit.
In terms of the potential for major operational impact and severe and widespread risks to patient safety, by far the greatest concern is the availability of medicines, devices and clinical supplies.Whilst we have not seen large scale departures so far, it is quite likely that an even more hostile public atmosphere towards Europe in the event of no deal, combined with a further fall in sterling against the euro and other currencies, would affect staff morale and potentially decisions to stay and work in the UK.
"It is difficult to prepare detailed predictions or plans for such unpredictable concerns, however it is difficult to see any scenario whereby a no deal or other chaotic Brexit does not significantly impact our ability to safely treat our patients."
Michel Barnier speaking in Brussels this morning said:
The position of the European Union is very clear.
It has been expressed yesterday by president (Donald) Tusk and president (Jean-Claude) Juncker will make a statement to the parliament this afternoon."
EU takes less than 10 minutes to reject MPs’ demand to bin Irish backstop
Spokesperson says withdrawal agreement is still not up for renegotiationfortnight, Mr Barclay said:
The vote was last night, the PM will be meeting with the leader of the opposition later today, there is an ongoing process... we are working hard in the national interest."
EU would rather no-deal Brexit than abandon Irish backstop, Theresa May told
Prime minister also warned that renegotiation would backfire on UK – by reopening controversies over Gibraltar, fishing and the Brexit 'divorce bill'Ms Smith told Today that she had Tory chief whip Julian Smith's note that was waved at Mr Corbyn during the incident. She said she was keeping it for "posterity".
"It actually says 'Angela wants a second referendum' and I think that is the reason why my leader potentially did not want to take my point.
My point would be that given that we have had the vote of confidence it is looking increasingly likely that the renegotiation of the deal is going to prove very difficult - Theresa May has chosen to go with the backstop and go with the ERG group rather than develop a consensus with the Commons.
On that basis I think the leader of the Labour Party needs to move to the next stage in party conference policy and adopt the People's Vote as party policy and pursue it now with all vengeance in Parliament."
The European Parliament is set to debate the state of play on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU today at around 14.30 UK time, one day after the vote in the UK‘s House of Commons.
Sketch: Theresa May has taken back control of Brexit – trouble is, she still has no idea what to do with it
There is no spice worth adding to the events themselves. No salt can augment the terrifying umami of such base inadequacyPlease allow a moment for the liveblog to load
The Independent has launched its #FinalSay campaign to demand that voters are given a voice on the final Brexit deal.
Sign our petition here
