MEPs will block any trade talks, after a no-deal Brexit, unless Britain has handed over the £39 billion divorce bill, implemented the controversial Northern Ireland backstop and guaranteed the rights of EU citizens in the country. The resolution, which was voted through by 544 votes to 126, also pleads with EU leaders to support an Article 50 extension simply to avoid the possibility of a no deal. The demands were last week put together by Guy Verhofstadt, the EU Parliament’s Brexit co-ordinator, and other senior MEPs.

They spell out that the UK’s departure from the EU is a “unprecedented and regrettable event” for the bloc, urging leaders to avoid a no-deal scenario.

In the event of a hard split, MEPs will scupper any trade negotiations until key answers on the Irish border, divorce bill and citizen’s rights are provided by London.

The European Parliament “will refuse to give consent to any agreement or agreements between the EU and the UK unless and until the UK honours its commitments”, the document spells out.

During a three-hour debate on the resolution, Mr Verhofstadt, one of its key architects, said the EU would defend its economy if Britain tries to outcompete the bloc.

He said: “I know there are some people in Britain who think these Europeans at the end of the negotiation will give in.

“That’s maybe possible, but we are not stupid.

“We’ll defend our economy. We’ll defend our single market. We’ll never accept a Singapore by the North Sea.”

Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotatior, also spelled out that no deal would be just the begining of a new set of talks between Brussels and London.

He warned a hard split does not resolve any of the issues around the rights of EU citizens, the Irish border and British obligations under the bloc’s long-term budget.

“If the United Kingdom leaves without a deal, all these questions will not disappear. They are still there,” he said.

“Some three years after the Brexit referendum we should not be pretending to negotiate.”

The resolution prompted outrage from the Brexit Party, who insisted it was the EU trying to stand in the way of Britain’s divorce from the bloc.

Nigel Farage, the party’s leader, told MEPs: “It is very clear to me that keeping us trapped inside this was the objective of Barnier from the start.

“To keep us inside, and you said it this morning, to keep us inside the Customs Union, and we’ve seen from other speakers today, the fear is that the UK breaks out of the customs union, breaks out of single market rules and we become more competitive and we become much wealthier outside the European Union than within it.

“Mr Verhofstadt, we want no part of your European empire. 

“The only way forward now to deliver on the referendum is for a clean break Brexit. Once we’ve done that, we’ll have a grown up conversation about trade and about the way forward.”

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