EU\'s Barnier: no-deal Brexit more likely by the day

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Britain has become more likely in the recent days to crash out of the European Union without a divorce agreement, the bloc's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said on Tuesday (April 2).

Barnier said the European Union was ready to accept Britain staying in the EU's customs union or a relationship akin to the one the EU has with Norway.

Speaking at an event in Brussels after the British parliament rejected alternatives to Prime Minister Theresa May's divorce deal, Barnier said Britain now had three choices before the April 12 leaving date.

He said Britain could still accept the stalled deal negotiated by May, reiterating it was "the only way" for Britain to leave the bloc in an orderly way.

Other options were the most damaging no-deal Brexit, or a long delay of the UK's leaving date, Barnier said, adding the UK parliament would hold the responsibility for these.

EU leaders including May meet in Brussels on April 10 to decide on next steps.