Thread by @nick_gutteridge

1/? Big MEPs Brexit debate is underway. President Tajani kicks off by urging UK to be 'ambitious' and 'revisit its red lines'. Says: 'We're certainly not looking at no deal. Fact remains there are 2 negative majorities in Westminster: 1 against agreement and 1 against [no deal].'

Melania Ciot, for Romanian presidency: 'This outcome is of course not the end of the game. While having been clear renegotiation of the agreement isn't on the cards we should stand ready to act once UK Govt has clarified what this result means & what should be the next steps.'

Commission deputy chief Frans Timmermans: 'Nobody should be under any illusion Brexit does harm. It does harm to UK, it does harm to EU. We're under an obligation as politicians to limit the harm to the absolute minimum possible & we believe the WA delivered on that obligation.'

Timmermans ends his brief Brexit speech with a C.S. Lewis quote: 'We can't go back and change the beginning, but we can start where we are and change the ending.'

Michel Barnier says listening to last night's debate was 'sad'. Adds: 'Objectively speaking this vote is not a clear manifestation of a positive majority which would define an alternative to the proposal on the table. It's up to British to indicate how we take things forward.'

Barnier: 'In any case whatever happens ratification of this Withdrawal Agreement is necessary. It is a precondition to create mutual trust amongst ourselves looking forward to the 2nd round of negotiations that will start ASAP on our future relationship.'

Barnier with strong overtures to MPs: 'If UK chooses to shift its red lines and makes a choice to be more ambitious to go beyond a simple FTA which, would be quite something, EU will be immediately ready to go hand in hand with that development and to give a favourable response.'

Barnier: 'We can't exclude any scenario. That's particularly true of no deal. Only 10 weeks away we're fearing more than ever that there's a risk of no deal and we're still focussed on avoiding it. But he adds: 'We're stepping up our efforts to be prepared for that possibility.'

EPP chief Manfred Weber: 'The ball is in the field of our British friends and not so much on Govt but on parliament. Please please please tell us finally what do you want to achieve. Give us a clear orientation and then Europe is ready to conclude the negotiations in a good way.'

Weber: 'I don't see any room of manoeuvre if the Brits want to have renegotiations. If they have further requests then we have also the right to ask for further questions. Then we open the whole box - not only British questions would be on the table if there's a renegotiation.'

Socialist MEP Roberto Gualtieri: 'Majority supporting UK Gov may stick together to stay in power but they've shown they can't deliver on most important question. Either a positive & credible majority on Brexit takes shape in Parliament or you need to put question back to people.'

Gualtieri: 'We'll be open to a closer relationship if UK wants to change red lines. Permanent Customs Union, Single Market were always options on table. A more ambitious future relationship would be positive for both sides and we're ready to engage on it in a constructive way.'

MEPs' Brexit chief Guy Verhofstadt: 'Brexit is an existential problem of Britain's future & soul. I know it's not up to me as a humble Belgian to lecture Brits on what to do but it's time to tell our Brit friends that for sake of UK itself it's time for cross-party cooperation.'

Verhofstadt: 'We from the EU are ready for a deeper future relationship even more deep than what's foreseen in the Political Declaration. If there's a cross-party majority in HoC to go in such a direction of a deeper relationship we're ready to fully engage to make that happen.'

Ex Ukip leader Farage says May has 'behaved like a leader of a nation defeated in war' and her deal 'looked like a surrender document'. Says: 'If she had any sense of honour she'd be gone by lunchtime'. Also praises Barnier, saying: 'You've got us now exactly where you want us.'

Farage says he'll fight EU elections in May if Art 50 is extended, knowing this is many MEPs' worst nightmare. Adds: 'If the betrayal becomes complete & we're forced to vote in a 2nd Ref you may be in for a big surprise. We'll be even more defiant & win it by a bigger majority.'

And with that typically Farage-esque sign off that's the group leaders done.

Senior German MEP Elmar Brok: 'What's important is a constructive proposal from UK Parliament. Corbyn said he wants a Customs Union. He should try & get a majority for that then it'll be no problem for us. It's far too late now for party political fights & personal ambitions.'