Last chance, Brexit leaders warn Britain

BRUSSELS: European Union leaders were gathering again overnight after deciding that the political crisis in Britain over Brexit poses too great a threat to the world’s biggest trading bloc.

In a move that underlined their loss of confidence in British Prime Minister Theresa May, the leaders, set two deadlines for Britain to leave or to take an entirely new path in considering its EU future.

At marathon late night talks, the leaders have rejected May’s request to extend the Brexit deadline from March 29 — just one week away — until June 30.

They agree to delay only until May 22, on the eve of EU elections, if she can persuade Britain’s Parliament to endorse the Brexit deal. Failing that, May would have until April 12 to choose a new path.

The deep uncertainty among leaders at an EU summit in Brussels was exceeded only by the high anxiety for politicians, businesses and citizens in Britain. The British military has set up a command post in a bunker under the defence ministry in London to coordinate planning, if needed.

French President Emmanuel Macron warned it was the responsibility of UK lawmakers to approve a Brexit deal and make sure Britain does not crash out of the bloc on March 29, its scheduled departure date, without an agreement.

‘‘In case of a ‘no’ vote . . . it will guide everybody to a nodeal for sure,’’ Macron cautioned. ‘‘This is it.’’

The House of Commons is split, both among and within its political parties, over whether and how to leave the EU. It has twice rejected the deal Prime Minister Theresa May brokered with the bloc’s leaders late last year.

‘‘We are all waiting, waiting for what the British intend to do,’’ EU Parliament President Antonio Tajani said. ‘‘We are all concerned.’’

On TV, May accused lawmakers of ‘‘infighting,’’ and ‘‘arcane procedural rows’’, but acknowledged no personal error in creating the deadlock.

An MP from May’s Conservative Party called May’s speech ‘‘toxic’’. Legislator Anna Soubry, of the breakaway Independent Group, described it as the ‘‘most dishonest and divisive statement from any prime minister’’.

May replied, calling on lawmakers to back her agreement and refusing to rule out a nodeal exit if they did not back her.

Businesses and economists say a nodeal Brexit would cause huge disruptions and billions in costs to the economies of both Britain and the EU.

❛ In case of a ‘no’ vote

. . . it will guide everybody to a nodeal

for sure