A spokesman for Jean-Claude Juncker said the deal was ‘not up for re negotiation’ (Picture: EPA)Whoever replaces Theresa May as the UK’s new Prime Minister will not be able to change her Brexit deal, Brussels has warned.

Many devoted leavers will be jumping for joy at the prospect of the country’s new leader pushing for a more Brexit-y deal with the EU.

But the European Parliament’s chief negotiator Guy Verhofstadt has batted away the suggestion and insisted that it’s either May’s deal or no deal.


He pulled no punches when talking about Boris Johnson, a prominent critic Mrs May’s Chequers deal and the bookies’ favourite as next Prime Minister.

Speaking in Switzerland yesterday Boris Johnson ruled out another EU extention (Picture: EPA)

Mr Verhofstadt told the Daily Mail: ‘He is famous across Europe for making promises durin the Brexit referendum that were undeliverable.



‘The current withdrawal agreement remains the only deal on the table. Why it remains blocked is a matter for the British people and their elected representatives.’

A spokesman for EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said the position in Brussels has not changed while Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the withdrawal agreement is ‘not up for renegotiation’.

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He said Mrs May’s resignation has ‘increased rather than decreased’ uncertainty of the UK’s future relationship with the EU.

Several leaders and senior politicians of EU member states have also spoken out against the possibility of a new deal.

Spanish government spokeswoman Isabel Celaa took the view that ‘a hard Brexit appears to be a reality that is near impossible to stop’ because the deal made between the EU and Mrs May is unlikely to pass in Parliament.

She said only the the UK’s parliament could take responsibility for crashing out with a no deal Brexit.

European Parliament’s cheif Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt didn’t hold back when talking about Mr Johnson (Picture: AP)

But some EU diplomats think that if a hardline Brexiteer Prime Minister will end up steering away from a no deal scenario under pressure.

One said: ‘Boris Johnson, he is difficult to estimate, because he’s such a populist but you don’t know if it’s words. Does he mean it? What’s behind what he says? Does he have a sense of responsibility or not?’

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Several Tory MPs have thrown their hat into the ring to be the next leader already and the future direction of the country will depend largely on their Brexit stance.

Whoever wins the race isn’t expected to be in post until the end of July, meaning they’ll miss a key EU summit next month.

The summit after that will be on October 17, which is just two weeks before the UK is due to leave the EU.

Theresa May at an EU Leaders Summit on Brexit in April (Picture: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Many within the EU think there will have to be a second extension to give the new leader time to get their house in order.

An extension is likely to be granted if Mrs May’s replacement calls a general eletion.

But yesterday Mr Johnson ruled out the possibility of delaying Brexit even further if he was in charge – even if it means crashing out.

He said: ‘We will leave the EU on October 31, deal or no deal’.

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