Brexit talks in turmoil as Theresa May fails to win over EU leaders

EU leaders meeting in Brussels were set to endorse May's request for an extension, but diplomats said they were wrangling over a range of different options.

A leak of draft of conclusions tabled by European Council President Donald Tusk suggested that a delay to May 22 should be made conditional on the UK Parliament approving May's withdrawal deal. But EU leaders, unimpressed by a 90-minute presentation by May, began discussing a range of different options.

Live updates: May and EU debate Brexit delay

Crucially, EU leaders discussed the possibility of dropping the suggestion by Tusk that any extension be conditional on the UK Parliament approving the divorce deal, one diplomat told CNN.

EU diplomats said the mood of the meeting was tense. May spoke for 90 minutes, and one source said she was "very evasive -- no answers, no clarity, no way forward." The EU was due to confirm its decision later on Thursday evening.

If and when EU leaders agree to a delay, May will have to persuade UK lawmakers to back her deal in a vote that is likely to be held early next week. She faces an uphill battle, particularly after alienating many when she blamed them for the Brexit chaos in an uncompromising statement in Downing Street on Wednesday. Members of Parliament have already rejected the deal twice -- first by a record 230, and last week by 149.

The mood in Brussels was bleak, with many officials skeptical that May would be able to pass her deal a third time. "If not, we will be in trouble -- all of us," Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė told CNN. EU leaders would be forced to hold another summit next week, with the prospect of a no-deal Brexit a mere hours away, Grybauskaitė said.

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Speaking to reporters earlier in the day, May refused to rule out taking Britain out of the EU without a deal in eight days' time, but continued to demand MPs support her Withdrawal Agreement next week.

"What is important is that parliament delivers on the result of the referendum and we deliver Brexit for the British people," she said. "I hope we can do that with a deal. I am still working on ensuring that Parliament can agree on a deal so we can leave in an orderly way. What matters is that we deliver on the vote of the British people."

In a televised address to the nation on Wednesday evening, May issued a stark warning to politicians: It was "high time" they agreed to her deal. "So far Parliament has done everything possible to avoid making a choice. All MPs have been willing to say is what they do not want," she said.

On Thursday, Britain's Trades Union Congress and the Confederation of British Industry -- who represent 5.6 million workers and 190,000 businesses respectively -- released a joint open letter, urging May to change her approach and castigating her strategy so far.

By blaming lawmakers for 'blocking Brexit,' May risks violence and loses even more allies

"Our country is facing a national emergency," wrote the heads of the two organizations, Frances O'Grady and Carolyn Fairbairn. "Decisions of recent days have caused the risk of no deal to soar. Firms and communities across the UK are not ready for this outcome. The shock to our economy would be felt by generations to come."

"We cannot overstate the gravity of this crisis for firms and working people," they said,

Meanwhile more than 1.2 million people have signed an online petition urging Parliament to revoke Article 50 and prevent Brexit.

The call went viral after May's speech on Wednesday night, with the vast majority of signatures coming in less than 24 hours. The traffic has caused Parliament's official petitions site to crash repeatedly on Thursday.

Between 80,000 and 100,000 people have been simultaneously viewing the petition, with nearly 2,000 signatures being completed every minute, the website said.

Petitions that get more than 100,000 signatures are considered for a parliamentary debate.

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