Brexiteers will have a ‘special place in hell’, EU chief Donald Tusk declared today in an extraordinary, furious speech.

The European Council President lashed out at top Tories as talks remain deadlocked just 51 days before the UK is supposed to leave.

Mr Tusk – who will meet Theresa May in Brussels tomorrow – slapped down the Prime Minister’s bid to reopen talks on the ‘backstop’ in her 585-page deal.

He appeared to be referring to Brexiteers like Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and Jacob Rees-Mogg – though an official later insisted he was only talking about people who were dead.

But he did also take a swipe at Jeremy Corbyn – saying there is "no effective leadership" in the UK that will allow Brexit to be reversed.

The extraordinary three-minute riposte unfolded as Theresa May was in Northern Ireland trying to win over Belfast parties to her deal.

But even after meeting her, party leaders in Northern Ireland complained they had "no idea" what her plan is and blasted her for "chasing unicorns".

She wants "alternative arrangements", a time limit or an exit clause on the backstop – which would trap the UK under EU customs rules from 2021 in exchange for keeping the Irish border open.

But Mr Tusk said the 27 nations of the EU are "not making any new offer" and the withdrawal agreement "is not open for renegotiation".

He declared: "We will not gamble with peace or put a sell by date on reconciliation.

"This is why we insist on the backstop."

His statement opened with him saying he as "always been with" people who want to reverse the Brexit vote "with all my heart".

But he added: "The facts are unmistakeable.

"At the moment the pro-Brexit stance of the UK prime minister and the leader of the opposition rules out this question.

"Today there is no political force and no effective leadership for Remain.

"I say this without satisfaction but you can’t argue with the facts." 

Mr Tusk said he continued to believe a solution is possible and “I will do everything in my power to find it.”

He also called for a “stable and clear majority in the House of Commons” for some kind of deal as MPs prepare to vote on February 14.

But the statement ended with him remarking bitterly: "By the way, I’ve been wondering what the special place in hell looks like for those who promoted Brexit without even a sketch of a plan of how to carry it safely.

"Thank you."

The comment prompted outrage among Brexiteers.

DUP Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson branded Mr Tusk a "devilish trident-wielding Euromaniac" with "contempt for the 17.4million people who voted to escape the corruption of the EU".

Tory MP Peter Bone branded the comments "outrageous", telling the House of Commons: "I don’t recall any President insulting members of this house… and the British people in such a way."

Irish Premier Leo Varadkar, appearing alongside Mr Tusk, said Ireland and the EU would be ramping up preparations for a No Deal Brexit .

Mr Varadkar said that while he was "open to further discussions" with the UK Government, the Withdrawal Agreement remained "the best deal possible".

He said: "While we expect that the backstop will never be used, we agreed again today that it is needed as a legal guarantee to ensure that there is no return to a hard border on the island of Ireland while protecting the integrity of our European single market and customs union.

"I think the events in London and the instability in British politics in recent weeks demonstrates exactly why we need a legal guarantee and a solution that is operable, that we know will work and will last."

Meanwhile in Northern Ireland, party leaders who met Theresa May this morning said they had "genuinely no idea" what her plan was.

Colum Eastwood, leader of the nationalist SDLP, fumed: “I genuinely have no idea what the strategy is or what she’s going to say to Brussels.

“We need to get over all this messing around.”

Mrs May’s officials are working with Tory MPs on the “Malthouse Compromise” plan for “alternative arrangements” to prevent a hard border in the event of no-deal.

But Mr Eastwood claimed there “is no magical solution” for technology to prevent a hard border, adding: “They may talk about vague ‘alternative arrangements’ but there aren’t alternatives.”

Calling for the PM to stand behind the insurance policy she negotiated, he warned: “We do not trust this Government or any future British Government to protect us in the future relationship.

“That’s why we need the backstop.”

Alliance Party leader Naomi Long said Mrs May failed to set out which of the three options she will pursue with Brussels today.

“The reality is we know the Prime Minister’s preference – it is the deal she took to Parliament a few weeks ago,” she said.

“She believed that it was the right deal.”

Ridiculing claims of a fresh technological solution to avoid a hard border, she added: “I’m tired of people chasing unicorns.

“It has to stop, we don’t have time.”

Blasting the uncertainty unleashed, she urged the PM to “reach out to the pragmatists”.

Ms Long said: “I don’t believe that simply running down the clock will change the ideologues in Parliament.”

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