Michel Barnier has questioned whether and why the EU would grant Britain an extension to Article 50, ahead of a vote by MPs on moving back the date of Brexit.

Speaking in the European Parliament the EU’s chief negotiator reiterated that negotiations were over.

“Why would we extend these discussions? The discussion on Article 50, that is done and dusted. We have the withdrawal agreement, it is there. That is the question asked and we are waiting for the answer to that,” he told MEPs.

Mr Barnier added that before the EU could make a decision on a further extension the UK would have to come up with a plan to build a “a constructive majority” in its own parliament.

“It is the responsibility of the United Kingdom – they have to tell us what it is they want for our future relations, what will their choice be? That is the question that we need an answer to now.

“That is the question that has to be answered before a decision, really, on a possible further extension.”

Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Show all 15 1 /15 Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Pork There will be tariffs on pork in order to protect British farmers Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Cheese There will be tariffs in place on some cheeses including €22.10/100kg of cheddar, €19.10/100kg of processed cheese and €18.60/100kg on some blue cheeses Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Milk There will be no tariffs in place on milk Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Car Parts There will be no tariffs on car parts imported from Europe PA Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Cars However finished cars will face tariffs of 10.6% Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Alcoholic drinks There will be no tariffs on alcoholic drinks - except on some rums due to ingredients used in their distilling process Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Beef There will be tariffs on beef in order to protect British farmers Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Fish There will be no tariffs on many types of fish including cod, haddock, salmon and sea bass Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Fruit and vegetables There will be no tariffs on almost all fruit and vegetables Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Chocolate There will be no tariffs on chocolate or other cocoa products Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Poultry There will be tariffs on poultry in order to protect British farmers Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Ceramics There will be some tariffs in place on ceramis Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Steel There will be no tariffs on steel Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Coal There will be no tariffs on coal Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Lamb/Mutton There will be tariffs on the meat of sheep in order to protect British farmers Getty

He was backed up by European Parliament Brexit chief Guy Verhofstadt, who told MEPs: ”I’m against every extension if it isn’t based on a clear opinion of the House of Commons for something they want. Please make up your minds in London, because this uncertainty can’t continue – not for us, not for Britain, and certainly not for our citizens.”

The pair’s comments echo those made by French president Emmanuel Macron, who said his country would block an extension of Article 50 “without a clear objective”. He added that any delay had to be “justified by a new choice of the British”.

There is little appetite in Brussels to keep kicking the can down the road, with views among EU diplomats mixed on the possibility of an Article 50 extension. Some countries are more unconditionally open to one to avoid a no-deal Brexit, while others more keen to attach conditions.

An extension would require a unanimous vote of the 27 remaining EU member states. Without their approval, Britain would crash out without a deal on 29 March 2019, unless it ratifies the withdrawal agreement or decides to revoke Article 50 completely.

Brussels washed its hands of responsibility for trying to pass the Brexit deal late on Tuesday after MPs rejected the withdrawal agreement for the second time. A spokesperson for European Council president Donald Tusk said that the EU had “done all that is possible to reach an agreement”.