Juncker rules out further Brexit delay after PM secures fresh deal

Jean-Claude Juncker piled the pressure on MPs to back Boris Johnson’s last-minute Brexit deal by ruling out any further delay to the UK’s departure from the European Union.

The European Commission president categorically refused to extend Article 50 once again, after the Prime Minister called on Parliament to “come together and get Brexit done”.

But Mr Johnson’s battle to get the agreement approved by MPs intensified on Thursday when the DUP ruled out backing the deal.

Following days of intense negotiations, the PM announced that he had struck a “great new deal” shortly before heading to the key summit of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday.

But it must still be passed by Parliament – so far hostile to both Brexit and Mr Johnson.

His key ally, the Democratic Unionist Party emphatically ruled out voting for the new deal, citing a series of objections over the integrity of the Union, the Good Friday Agreement and Northern Ireland’s economy.

Mr Juncker, after holding a face-to-face discussion with the PM, told reporters the deal “has to” be approved by Parliament.

“Anyway there will be no prolongation,” he added, on the October 31 deadline.

“We have concluded a deal and so there is not an argument for further delay – it has to be done now.”

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