A European Commission spokesperson has encapsulated EU frustration at UK indecision on Brexit by channelling the Spice Girls.

Margaritis Schinas, the chief spokesperson of the commission presidency, told reporters that that Britain would have to “tell us what they want, what they really, really want” in an exhausted piece to camera.

Apart from recalling the girl band’s 1996 hit “Wannabe”, Mr Schinas repeated the EU’s mantra that the withdrawal agreement is not open for negotiation – effectively shooting down Theresa May’s “plan B”, which she spelled out in parliament yesterday.

He said he suffered from “a terrible sense of deja vu” over the negotiations and that “there is nothing new” that can be added at this point.

Brussels says London needs to move before it can meaningfully add anything else to discussions.

“Look, in all honesty I have a terrible sense of deja vu in all these exchanges, and I think I’m not the only one,” Mr Schinas said with a sigh.

“There is nothing else that I can meaningfully say: I think I have exhausted all our arguments, all our positions.

“There is nothing new. Michel Barnier is on the record, everybody’s on the record I think. There’s nothing much to add, there’s nothing else to add.

“The withdrawal agreement was agreed with the UK government, with the EU27, it is now on the table, it is not open for negotiation, and we expect the United Kingdom to tell us what they want, what they really, really want.”

Ms May on Monday said she would try to make changes to the controversial Northern Ireland backstop in order to appease the DUP and Tory eurosceptics and get them to vote for her deal.

But the prime minister has already asked the EU’s negotiators about this, and they have rejected it. Both sides say they are ready to go ahead with no deal, though neither say they want that to happen.

If there is no agreement by 29 March 2019 the UK will leave with no deal on that date, unless the government decides to revoke Article 50, or seeks an extension. Labour has called for the government to rule out a no-deal scenario.

Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Show all 20 1 /20 Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Brexit supporters outside parliament PA Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament An anti-Brexit protester adjusts her pro-EU wig AFP/Getty Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament A message to Jeremy Corbyn in support of a people’s vote Getty Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament A mock Titanic captained by Theresa May heads towards an iceberg in a stunt by campaigning group Avaaz AP Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Anti-Brexit protesters outside parliament PA Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Protesters of opposing sides are in close contact outside of parliament PA Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Paintings of Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn Getty Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage speaks to the media at the protests outside parliament Reuters Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament A pro-Brexit protester in Parliament Square Getty Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Opposing protesters share the space outside parliament Getty Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament An anti-Brexit protester holds EU balloons outside parliament Reuters Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Anti-Brexit protesters stand on Westminster Bridge PA Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage speaks to the media at the protests outside parliament Reuters Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Anti-Brexit protesters demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament EPA Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament A pro-Brexit protester sets up outside parliament Reuters Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament An Avaaz campaigner holds a People’s Vote life float Reuters Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament A demonstrator holds a sign advocating a no-deal Brexit outside parliament AFP/Getty Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament An anti-Brexit protester waves an EU flag on Westminster Bridge PA Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Protesters of opposing sides demonstrate outside parliament AFP/Getty Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Protesters of opposing sides stand near parliament Reuters

It is not the first time the chart-topping group have been mentioned in the same breath as Brexit. In 1996 they gave a now infamous interview to the Spectator magazine where Victoria “Posh Spice” Beckham slammed the “European federal plan” and described the single currency as “an outrage”.

“Britain was the first to break away from the Roman Empire,’ Geri “Ginger Spice” Halliwell added. “When push comes to shove, the pounds, dollars and deutschmarks can’t be equal. They can’t all be at the same standard of living.”