Theresa May will head to Brussels to ask EU leaders to delay Brexit, after pouring scorn on MPs for not backing her deal.

The prime minister will urge other premiers to push back the date Britain leaves the bloc from 29 March to 30 June.

The EU has indicated it would agree to the extension, but only if she can win parliament's backing for the withdrawal deal next week.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will also be in Brussels for talks with the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, secretary general of the European Commission Martin Selmayr and a number of prime ministers from member states.

The party said Mr Corbyn would "express his confidence that an alternative to Theresa May's botched deal can be agreed in parliament".


Image: The PM's speech came on the 1,000th day since the EU referendum

The PM used a late-night statement from Downing Street on the 1,000th day since the EU referendum to call the delay "a matter of great personal regret".

Mrs May said she was on the public's side against MPs who have "done everything possible to avoid making a choice".

And the prime minister repeated a hint she could stand down if forced to extend Article 50 - the EU's legal exit mechanism - beyond her proposed date.

"I am not prepared to delay Brexit any further than 30 June," she declared.

Tory Brexiteers who have twice voted down her Brexit deal quickly pointed out out she could take the UK out of the EU without a deal and keep to the original date next Friday.

"Not leaving the EU next Friday is a political choice - and one entirely within the Prime Minister's gift," the former Conservative vice-chair for youth, Tom Pursglove MP wrote on Twitter.

"We can leave on the 29 March - on time, as planned, as promised. There is absolutely no need to delay. The ball is in her court."

Image: Mrs May blamed MPs for the delay. Pic: UK Parliament/Mark Duffy

Another, Conor Burns, asked "what was the actual point of that", while Andrea Jenkyns commented: "As usual another statement saying very little."

Tory Remainers were equally unimpressed, MP Nick Boles asking: "Has anyone ever learned anything from a speech by Theresa May?"

And ex-universities minister and second referendum backer Sam Gyimah called it "toxic" to "resort to the blame game".

She's attacking the MPs whose votes she needs. It will have cost her support

One of Mrs May's own ministers rounded off the criticism by telling Sky News her speech had "compounded" a "pretty bad day" for her.

"Outrageous to claim parliament has rejected options we have never seriously had," they added. "No free votes, always whipped against."

Image: EU leaders will gather in Brussels today to discuss the request

Another told Sky News: "She is clearly trying to win over Labour MPs. It will not work, they do not trust her... This strategy is guaranteed to see MV3 [meaningful vote three] will be beaten badly."

Even Labour's Lisa Nandy, an opposition MP considered by some as a potentially swing voter to back the Brexit deal, was excoriating.

She called the statement "disgraceful", adding: "Pitting parliament against the people in the current environment is dangerous and reckless…

"She's attacking the MPs whose votes she needs. It will have cost her support."

One Tory MP, Daniel Kawczynski, did urge other backbenchers to move to back the prime minister's deal, saying: "Brexiteers like me... we don't want a lengthy extension of Article 50 and we don't want to lose Brexit entirely."

Tusk: Brexit delay 'possible' but conditional

MPs have so far been denied "indicative votes" - a series of free votes to express their feelings on a range of Brexit options and scenarios.

David Lidington, the de facto deputy prime minister, appeared to concede them after the government lost the second "meaningful vote" on its Brexit deal.

He "confirmed" they would fall in the two weeks after the EU summit, if no deal had been approved before it.

Mrs May will head to the Belgian capital hoping she has done enough to secure EU leaders' support for a short extension and definitely get her deal over the line.

But EU Council President Donald Tusk warned they would only lend support if Mrs May called and won a vote on it next week.

He suggested there could be a special summit next week to rule on the extension, or EU leaders could do it in writing.