EU is ready for us to stay but says no to more talks

DONALD Tusk yesterday said Brussels was ready for Brexit to be reversed as EU officials warned Britain could not expect to renegotiate the exit deal.

The EU Council president said the bloc was more prepared for a ‘noBrexit’ scenario than a ‘no-deal’.

Meanwhile, European Union officials insisted they would not throw Mrs May a lifeline by re-writing the withdrawal pact, saying they could compromise no further.

When asked about events in London at a press conference yesterday Mr Tusk said: ‘It’s obvious for me Brexit is the most important issue today for the EU and for the rest of the world.

‘It is not for me to comment on the latest developments in London. All I can say is that the EU is prepared for a final deal with the United Kingdom in November.’

But he added: ‘We are also prepared for a no-deal scenario, but of course we are best prepared for a no-Brexit scenario.’

Last night, German chancellor Angela Merkel also suggested there could be no return to the negotiating table, saying: ‘We have a document on the table that Britain and the EU27 have agreed to, so for me there is no question at the moment whether we negotiate further.’

Earlier, during a joint press conference Mr Tusk said: ‘Since the very beginning we have had no doubt that Brexit is a lose-lose situation and that our negotiations are only about damage control.’

He also announced that a special Brexit summit would take place on November 25 to finalise a deal.

Suggesting EU member states would also have to swallow the deal, he called for EU ambassadors not to make ‘too many comments’ when they scrutinise it today.

On Monday ministers from the 27 remaining EU states will also analyse the text.

Mr Tusk’s suggestion that the EU is prepared for a Brexit reversal rallied Remainers. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable said: ‘It’s good to see that “no Brexit” is clearly on the table from the EU.’