Emmanuel Macron has given a stark assessment of the crisis facing Theresa May over Brexit .

The French President said a short, 'technical' extension to Article 50 was possible, but only if the Prime Minister manages to get MPs to back her deal.

Speaking outside the European Council summit in Brussels, Mr Macron said: "If there is a postponement, it can only be a technical one.

"No extension to renegotiate the Withdrawal Agreement… No extension if there is not a clear majority to provide a mandate for the future relationship.

"Therefore, there needs to be a profound political change if there is to be an extension which is anything other than technical.

"But it is up to Britain to tell us."

Switching to English, he added: "We do respect the vote of British people. We do respect what the Prime Minister and Parliament are making.

"But we have to be clear. We can discuss and agree on an extension, if it is a technical extension in case of a Yes vote on the Agreement we negotiated over two years.

"In the case of a No vote, it will guide everybody to a no-deal for sure. This is it."

Mrs May has issued a call for Parliament to deliver on the decision of the British people and take the UK out of the European Union.

As she arrived in Brussels for an EU summit at which she hopes to be granted a three-month extension to the UK's Brexit deadline, the Prime Minister said she "sincerely hopes" Britain will be able to leave with a deal.

But other EU leaders indicated that the 27 remaining states may only be willing to offer her a postponement to the eve of European Parliament elections on May 23, rather than the date of June 30 which she is seeking.

"What is important is that Parliament delivers on the result of the referendum and that we deliver Brexit for the British people. I sincerely hope that we can do that with a deal."

She added: "What matters is that we recognise that Brexit is the decision of the British people – we need to deliver on that.

"We're nearly three years on from the original vote – it is now the time for Parliament to decide."

Jeremy Corbyn held what he described as "very constructive discussions" in Brussels with EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier and European Commission secretary general Martin Selmayr which he said had focused on the means to prevent a no-deal Brexit next Friday.

The Labour leader twice declined to rule out the option of halting Brexit by revoking the Article 50 letter informing Brussels of Britain's intention to quit.

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