President Macron with Angela Merkel in Brussels today. The French leader has taken a harder line on the Brexit impasse than his German counterpart

President Macron has pushed the UK closer to a no-deal exit in eight days after Theresa May’s efforts to turn voters’ anger on MPs backfired.

The French leader put parliament on notice that failure to back Mrs May’s deal for a third time next week ensured “we will be going to a no-deal”.

He was speaking before a meeting of EU leaders to hear the prime minister’s formal request for a short Brexit delay to allow a final vote next week.

Her chances of winning that were receding today as MPs from across the Brexit divide united to condemn her attempt to deflect blame for the political crisis onto parliament.

Labour sources said that she had “trashed” efforts led by Julian Smith, the Tory chief