Donald Tusk last night urged EU leaders to grant the UK a longer extension to Brexit than humbled Theresa May has requested.
The Prime Minister, who spent the day holding talks with French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Angela Merkel, has been making the case for a delay until June 30.
But in a letter to the 27 remaining member states ahead of a key summit today, European Council president Tusk said there was “little reason to believe” May’s beleaguered Brexit deal could be completed before the start of July.
He called for the European Council to discuss a longer extension, such as a “flexible extension” lasting “as long as necessary and no longer than one year”.
Earlier, May made a desperate dash to Berlin and Paris to lay the groundwork for tonight’s talks.
The PM strode up the red carpet in the German capital but Merkel was absent for several moments.
The last time May was in Germany, her car door stuck, leaving Merkel waiting awkwardly for her to emerge.
Theresa May pleads with Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron over Brexit delay
Local media said the chancellor could support a long “flextension” until 2020 with the UK able to leave earlier.
Macron has taken a tougher line, with suggestions that he wants strict conditions in return for a delay.
Just 24 hours before the summit, Brexit talks between Labour and the Tories broke up with no resolution. They are due to resume tomorrow.
There are concerns about whether the two parties are too far apart to reach a compromise and fears that a future Tory PM, likely to be a Brexiteer, would not abide by the agreement.
Others claimed the Government was simply trying to drag out negotiations to get past the Brussels summit.
A Labour spokesman said: “We have yet to see the clear shift in the Government’s position.”
Brexit talks between Tories and Labour on brink of collapse
But a No10 spokesman said: “We remain committed to delivering on Brexit.”
It came as the House of Commons approved a Government motion on extending the departure date by 420 votes to 110.
It followed the royal assent given to Yvette Cooper and Oliver Letwin’s Bill that blocks the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
However, 97 Conservatives opposed the plan, including ex-Brexit secretaries David Davis and Dominic Raab.
