The Prime Minister has warned MPs to back her Brexit deal or they risk delaying it indefinitely.

Theresa May is due to travel to the European Council summit on Thursday where, if no deal has been agreed, it is expected she will ask for an extension for Article 50.

She acknowledged that even if her deal is passed before the summit of EU leaders the government would need a “short technical extension” beyond the scheduled March 29 Brexit date.

Speaking ahead of the conference she told MPs: “If the proposal were to go back to square one and negotiate a new deal, that would mean a much longer extension – almost certainly requiring the United Kingdom to participate in the European Parliament elections in May."

If Britain were to take part in the European Parliament elections on May 23 it could mean Britain is forced to stay in the EU for an indefinite period.

Warning that if MPs failed to back her deal for a third time that “We will not leave the EU for many months, if ever”.

Referring to the likelihood of a shorter extension beyond March 29 she said: “That is not an ideal outcome – we could and should have been leaving the EU on March 29.

“But it is something the British people would accept if it led swiftly to delivering Brexit.

“The alternative if Parliament cannot agree the deal by that time is much worse.”