Donald Tusk has called for 'patience' after Theresa May asked for a further Brexit delay.
The president of the European Council said 'we don't know what the end result will be' with Britain's future still uncertain just 10 days before a possible cliff-edge exit.
The PM said today that she will ask for a further extension to the Brexit process to allow the UK to leave the European Union 'in a timely and orderly way'.
However EU leaders including Emmanuel Macron have signalled that Brussels would require a good reason for a further extension.
Donald Tusk (pictured) has called for 'patience' after Theresa May asked for a further Brexit delay but EU leaders have signalled they will not necessarily grant one
Macron lashed out at the crisis in Westminster warning that the EU could not 'be held hostage' to the Brexit crisis and suggested that the UK might not get a delay to Brexit.
Welcoming Irish premier Leo Varadkar to Paris the French president warned that Brussels would be 'open' to a further extension to Article 50 only if it was accompanied by firm plans for its use.
Speaking alongside Mr Varadkar at the Elysee Palace he said credible justifications for an Article 50 extension could include an election, second referendum or alternative proposals for the future relationship, such as a customs union.
But he warned: 'A long extension involving the participation of the UK in European elections and European institutions is far from evident and certainly not (to be taken) for granted.
'Our priority shall be the good functioning of the EU and the single market. The EU cannot sustainably be the hostage to the solution to a political crisis in the UK.'
He added: 'We cannot spend the coming months sorting out yet again the terms of our divorce and dealing with the past.'
It came as Theresa May held a marathon Cabinet meeting in an attempt to thrash out a Brexit plan as MPs plotted a long delay to block no-deal.
Emmanuel Macron (right) with Irish leader Leo Varadkar in Paris today. The French president warned that another Brexit delay must have a purpose to be granted by EU leaders
Mr Macron said: 'The EU cannot sustainably be the hostage to the solution to a political crisis in the UK' as the two leaders met at the Elysee Palace
Mr Varadkar trod a similar line, telling reporters: 'I'd like to talk about what we can do to assist the Prime Minister to secure the ratification of Withdrawal Agreement, including the backstop.
'Recognising that the Withdrawal Agreement cannot be opened, but if the UK changes red lines we could make changes to the declaration on the future relationship.
'Also we'll need to consider how we may respond to any request for a long extension, that will involve UK participating in EU elections and we want to avoid a rolling extension, so any extension must have a clear purpose and plan.
'We'll need to talk about what we will do in the event of a no-deal, which will be particularly difficult for Ireland, and from our point of view, we'll want to pursue our twin objectives, to protect the Good Friday Agreement on which peace in Northern Ireland is based and protect the integrity of the single market and customs union, which Ireland's economic model has been based for decades.'
MPs led by Yvette Cooper had earlier launched an audacious attempt to force Theresa May to ask the EU for another extension to Article 50 to after April 12 if her deal fails to pass first.
Rebel backbenchers seem to have abandoned hopes of holding a third round of so-called indicative votes on Wednesday, after two previous votes on Brexit alternatives chosen by backbenchers ended in deadlock.
'We are all running out of time. There is only 10 days until the danger is we crash out with no deal at all,' she told Sky News.
'We have been trying to condense into two days what should really have been done by the Prime Minister two years ago.
'There is too much of a game of brinkmanship going on, everyone just wants to leave this until the final couple of hours and hope that someone else blinks first.
Yvette Cooper accused MPs of trying to 'leave this until the final couple of hours and hope that someone else blinks first' after tabling the bill to delay Brexit
'That is a really dangerous way to make decisions, it's a really high-risk game with the future of the country.'
Earlier in Brussels EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier had warned that a no-deal withdrawal was becoming more likely by the day.
The Prime Minister is gathering her top team for crisis talks in Downing Street after MPs again failed to find a majority for a series of alternatives to her Brexit deal.
A call for a customs union with the EU was rejected by just three votes, while a demand for a second referendum was defeated by 12 and a Norway-style deal put forward by Nick Boles by 21.
Mr Barnier said the UK now had two options, quit the EU without a deal, or seek an extension to Article 50.
Speaking in Brussels, Mr Barnier said: 'If the UK Parliament does not vote in favour of the Withdrawal Agreement in the coming days only two options would remain.
'Leaving without an agreement or requesting a longer extension of the Article 50 period.'
Mr Barnier said the UK now had two options, quit the EU without a deal, or seek an extension to Article 50.
Speaking in Brussels, Mr Barnier said: 'If the UK Parliament does not vote in favour of the Withdrawal Agreement in the coming days only two options would remain.
'Leaving without an agreement or requesting a longer extension of the Article 50 period.'
He added: 'No deal was never our desired or intended scenario.
'But the EU is now prepared.'
He said no deal 'becomes day after day more likely'.
Mr Barnier said: 'The UK may ask for another extension. Such an extension would carry significant risks for the EU.
'Therefore a strong justification would be needed.
'We have always said that we can accept a customs union, or relationship along the style of the Norway model.
'In fact, however, the Political Declaration today can accommodate all of these options already.
'It leaves the door open for a variety of outcomes.
'But if the UK so wishes we are ready to rework the Political Declaration.'
The comments came after a dramatic day in the Commons which saw Mr Boles declare that he would no longer sit as a Conservative MP as he blamed the party for refusing to compromise on a means of leaving the European Union.
Cabinet is meeting on Tuesday for five hours to thrash out a way forward.
Michel Barnier has warned a no-deal Brexit is becoming more likely by the day during a speech at the European Policy Centre think-tank in Brussels today
The first three hours will be without civil servants, fuelling speculation the senior Tories could use the time to consider a snap election, the timing of the Prime Minister's exit from office or to air the bitter grievances between the Leave and Remain wings of the ministerial team.
The failure of any option to gain a majority in the Commons left the UK no clearer about its direction with the prospect of a no-deal Brexit on April 12.
Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay told MPs that if they wanted to secure a further delay from the European Union, the Government must be able to put forward a 'credible proposition' as to what it would do.
MPs have again voted down all alternative Brexit options put to it in a second of votes aimed at finding a replacement for Theresa May's (pictured returning to Downing Street last night)
But he held out the prospect of leaving with a deal next month – as long as MPs back one.
He said: 'If the House were to agree a deal this week, it may still be possible to avoid holding European Parliamentary elections.'
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock pleaded with MPs to back the Prime Minister's deal 'and deliver Brexit'.
But European Parliament Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt said the votes meant 'a hard Brexit becomes nearly inevitable'.
He suggested that Wednesday, when MPs may have a third attempt at reaching a majority, was the 'last chance to break the deadlock or face the abyss'.
After a debate disrupted by semi-naked climate change protesters in the public gallery, 'indicative votes' were again held in an attempt to establish what outcome might have majority support among MPs following a similar process last week.
MPs have control of proceedings in the Commons for a third time on Wednesday, but Speaker John Bercow said it was not yet clear what debates and votes will be staged.
The mastermind of the plan, Conservative former minister Sir Oliver Letwin, is expected to set out his proposals on Tuesday.
Tory Brexit hardliners pressed the Prime Minister to now take a tougher line with Brussels.
Announcing his decision to quit the Tory benches, Mr Boles said he would now sit as an independent progressive conservative.
'The Conservative Party has shown itself to be incapable of compromise,' he said.
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https://textbacklinkexchanges.com/macron-issues-another-no-deal-threat-as-he-warns-the-eu-will-not-be-taken-hostage-by-the-uk/
News Photo Macron issues another No Deal threat as he warns the EU will not be taken 'hostage' by the UK
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