EU leaders warn the UK will not be offered a better Brexit deal

EU leaders have insisted the UK will not be offered a better Brexit deal if Parliament rejects what is currently on the table.

The warning came as a special European Council meeting formally endorsed the withdrawal agreement and future partnership document struck by negotiators.

Theresa May now faces a huge task to try to persuade MPs to vote for the deal in the Commons next month.

Speaking as they arrived for the gathering in Brussels, EU chiefs said there is no chance of it being renegotiated if it is rejected.

Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, said: "This is the deal. It is the best deal possible. And the European Union will not change its fundamental position when it comes to these issues. I do think the British Parliament, because this is a wise Parliament, will ratify this deal."

Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte said: "This is the deal on the table. I don’t think there is anything more. In general, this is the max we can all do, both Theresa May and her government as well as the EU."

May will launch a PR blitz in a desperate attempt to persuade the public to rally behind her deal ahead of the Commons vote, which is expected on or around 12 December.

The Prime Minister published an open letter to voters this morning saying she will pour her "heart and soul" into getting the agreement through Parliament.