Theresa May will make a desperate dash to Berlin and Paris today to make the case for a further delay to Brexit ahead of an emergency Brussels summit.
With three days until the new cliff-edge date, the Prime Minister wants a delay until June 30 at the latest, with the possibility of an early exit if she can get a deal through Parliament.
No10 sources said she is visiting Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Emmanuel Macron to try to convince them as she was unhappy about her humiliation at the last bloc summit and wanted to put in the groundwork.
But a leaked draft paper reportedly reveals the EU wants us to approve a deal by this Friday or face a long extension of nine or 12 months – with some strict conditions attached.
In that case, we will have an enhanced duty of “sincere cooperation” to prevent us disrupting the EU’s functions by, for example, holding up budget negotiations.
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Mrs May invited Brexiteer cabinet ministers for talks where they warned her against a long extension. She also called EU chiefs Donald Tusk, Jean-Claude Juncker and other EU leaders.
Her top team will meet Labour negotiators again today to try to resurrect stalled compromise talks.
But leader Jeremy Corbyn said his team felt “frustrated”, adding: “Talks have to mean a movement and so far there has been no change in those red lines.”
A customs union and alignment on workers’ rights and environmental and consumer protections will top the agenda as Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer sits down with de facto deputy PM David Lidington.
But Labour sources indicated they were ready to compromise on a second referendum, which would anger many Labour MPs.
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The fresh talks also angered Tories, with leading Brexiteer Boris Johnson urging MPs to act to stop her “surrender” to Mr Corbyn.
And Brexiteer Mark Francois demanded backbenchers get “indicative votes” on their lack of confidence in a bid to oust her – but was refused.
Tensions were running high outside Parliament too with Remainer protesters making their voices heard – joined by former New Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell, who was spotted playing the bagpipes.
It all came as Tory officials seemed to admit will have to take part in EU elections, despite Mrs May repeatedly saying she does not want to.
A leaked message to Tory candidates declared “we will be contesting the European elections on May 23” but a later email appeared to row back on this.
Meanwhile, EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier warned we cannot dodge a £39billion settlement and a backstop for the Irish border by quitting the bloc without a deal.
