LONDON — Theresa May said she "never wanted" to agree a potential delay to Brexit until October and appealed to MPs to pass a deal before May 22 to ensure the U.K. does not have to take part in the European election.

Speaking in the House of Commons hours after accepting the European Council's proposal of an extension of the Article 50 negotiating period until October 31, the U.K. prime minister emphasized that the extension could be terminated whenever her Withdrawal Agreement is ratified.

"In short, the date of our departure from the EU — and our participation in the European parliamentary elections — remains a decision for this house," she told MPs. "As President Tusk said last night: 'During this time, the course of action will be entirely in the U.K's hands.'"

However, she faced renewed calls to resign immediately from one of her own MPs, veteran Brexiteer Bill Cash, who called the extension an "abject surrender." Asked if she would quit, May replied: "I think you know the answer to that."

May has pledged to leave office only when her Withdrawal Agreement is ratified.

Passing a deal by May 22 would allow the U.K. to leave the EU at 11 p.m. on May 31, the prime minister said. But for this to happen she is likely to be dependent on a positive outcome to talks between her government and the opposition Labour Party on a compromise deal.

May said the talks have been "uncomfortable for many" on both sides, but that she still hopes for a positive outcome, or that the two sides could at least agree on a "small number of options for the future relationship" that could be put to MPs for binding votes.

She indicated that legislation required to implement any deal — the Withdrawal Agreement Bill — could become a "forum ... to resolve some of the outstanding issues in the future relationship," and reminded MPs that the document underpinning this latter aspect of the Brexit negotiations, the Political Declaration, could still be changed if MPs can find a majority for a new way forward.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said if the government is "serious" about getting a deal "the red lines must move and we must see a real compromise." He said there must be a way to "entrench" any compromise agreement to prevent May's successor as Conservative leader from tearing it up.

"I deeply regret that we have not yet been able to secure agreement in this house" — Theresa May

May said discussions at the European Council had been "difficult" and that many EU27 leaders felt "deep frustration" with the Brexit impasse.

The prime minister, who was praised by Labour MP and chair of the House of Commons Brexit committee Hilary Benn for "putting the national interest above her party's interest" by rejecting a no-deal Brexit, said that MPs should use the upcoming Easter parliamentary recess to "reflect."

"I never wanted to seek this extension — and I deeply regret that we have not yet been able to secure agreement in this house for a deal that would allow us to leave in a smooth and orderly way," she said.

"I know ... that this whole debate is putting members on all sides of the house under immense pressure and causing uncertainty across the country," she added. "And we need to resolve this."