British Prime Minister Theresa May is due back in Brussels on Thursday on a last-gasp mission to beg EU leaders for more time to deliver a Brexit deal twice rejected by her own parliament.
She wrote to EU Council president Donald Tusk on Wednesday to ask for a three-month delay until June 30, he suggested the other 27 capitals might allow her more time to win over deeply sceptical British lawmakers.
"You want this stage of the Brexit process to be over and done with this. I agree. I am on your side," May said, blaming lawmakers for opposing her Brexit plan and insisting she was requesting a delay until June 30 with "great personal regret".
"As prime minister, I am not prepared to delay Brexit any further than June 30," May told lawmakers, in comments interpreted as a hint about her own future.