The EU Commission has confirmed that it will be making no changes to the Brexit withdrawal agreement following a claim by Theresa May that MPs would be voting on a new, better deal.

A spokesperson told reporters in Brussels that collapsed talks between the government and Labour were “a Westminster process” and that there was “nothing that we can do at this stage”.

“I think it’s clear that we’re in a situation where London talks to London, so there is nothing that we can do at this stage, as we think we said on many occasions in the past,” the spokesperson said.

“When this process in London is over, then of course we are here, within the caveats that you all know, ready to engage, and of course, keeping always the 31 October deadline very present in the picture.”

Over the weekend the prime minister claimed she would bring forward a “bold” offer and “new and improved” deal for MPs, who will be voting on the deal for a fourth time in early June. Nobody in Westminster expects the deal to pass.

On Monday, a Downing Street spokesperson would not elaborate on what significant changes would be made to the withdrawal agreement, but if there actually are any they are likely to be cosmetic and non-binding.

Brussels has long washed its hands of the negotiation process and for months said it will not renegotiate the deal. There have been no further talks between the UK and EU this year.

Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator, also on Monday reiterated the bloc’s position that “the EU is ready to be more ambitious in the political declaration if UK so wishes”. The prime minister has however refused to countenance such changes in talks with Labour – which would need to include a customs union and single market access to bring the opposition party on side.

Any move to do so would be hugely unpopular with Tory MPs who do not want a close economic relationship with the EU, and would not address their existing concerns – which mostly relate to the controversial Northern Ireland backstop arrangement.

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(AP Photo/ Kirsty Wigglesworth) Kirsty Wigglesworth AP Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A pro-Brexit protester holds a sign next to a statue of Winston Churchill at the March to Leave demonstration in London, Britain March 29, 2019. REUTERS/Toby Melville TOBY MELVILLE Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit demonstrators in Parliament Square in Westminster, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday March 29, 2019. See PA story POLITICS Brexit. Photo credit should read: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire Jonathan Brady PA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Pro-Brexit protesters hold signs and wave flags at the March to Leave demonstration in London, Britain March 29, 2019. 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The commission spokesperson also confirmed that “for as long as the United Kingdom stays in the European Union the United Kingdom will have the full rights and obligations of all participating member states” – including the right to nominate a commissioner after this week’s European parliament elections.