EU leaders turned the screw on Theresa May on Thursday night by refusing her request for a three-month Brexit extension and giving her just three weeks to find a way forward.

If the Prime Minister fails to get Parliament’s backing for her Brexit deal in a third “meaningful vote”, she will have until April 12 to decide whether to seek a further extension or leave with no deal.

Even if Mrs May asks for an extension beyond April 12, the EU could refuse, after Emmanuel Macron warned that a third defeat for the Brexit deal would mean “going to a no-deal”.

If Parliament backs Mrs May’s deal next week, Britain will leave the EU on May 22.

April 12 marks the date Mrs May must inform the Electoral Commission whether Britain will hold European Parliament elections. Despite previously saying it would be a “failure” if Britain had to take part in the elections in May, the Prime Minister talked up the idea of a further extension in a late-night press conference.

She said that if MPs had not agreed her deal by April 12: “We would either leave with no deal or put forward an alternative plan. If this involved a further extension it would mean participation in the European elections.”

She refused to say whether she would prefer no deal to a lengthy delay, in comments that will infuriate Brexiteers.