Theresa May plans on staying in office as long as it takes to deliver Brexit (Image: GETTY) Instead she will make it clear she plans on staying as long as it takes to deliver Brexit, senior Tory sources have revealed. Amid angry clashes at an emergency EU summit in Brussels last night, the Prime Minister was set to agree a delay of up to a year before the UK's departure. The move is certain to intensify Tory demands for the Prime Minister to set a date for her departure from Downing Street. But a Tory source said the Prime Minister was determined to remain in her post until "phase one of the negotiations" - exit from the EU - is concluded. Mrs May has previously told MPs that "as prime minister" she could not countenance the UK remaining in the EU beyond June 30 and taking part in European Parliamentary elections. Tory MPs interpreted the remark as an indication she would not stay in office beyond that date. Related articles Trump warns 'brutal' EU over Brexit - ‘It all comes back to bit you' Tories facing BREXODUS: Ministers could quit forcing party COLLAPSE But last night's move towards a delay of up to a year signals that she could remain in office long beyond that deadline. Sources at the summit said French President Emmanuel Macron was taking a "very tough" stance against granting the UK so lengthy extension, however. He was reported to be arguing that Britain should leave the EU as soon as possible to prevent the continuing Brexit row destabilising the bloc. One official from the President's diplomatic entourage said: "We do not want to import Britain's political crisis into the EU." Mrs May is expected to enrage her Brexiteer Tory critics further by announcing today that she will step up her cross-party talks with Labour to try to thrash out a new exit strategy. Macron argued that the Britain should leave the EU as soon as possible to prevent destabilisation (Image: GETTY) Downing Street officials expect talks between ministers and Labour frontbenchers, which are focused on a watered-down Brexit including a continuing customs union with the bloc, to resume tomorrow. The source said Mrs May recognised the "urgency" of delivering Brexit and was determined to build a parliamentary alliance for her Withdrawal Agreement that could ensure the country leaves the EU by June 30. But crucially the source indicated she could stay in office much longer, adding: "She understands that the Conservative Party feels the sense that a new leadership is required for the second phase of negotiations [after Brexit has taken place]. "That was the commitment she gave to her party colleagues and it's one she stands by." Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith yesterday insisted Mrs May must not be allowed to "drift on" in office after accepting a lengthy Brexit delay. Former Tory Leader Iain Duncan Smith said Mrs May shouldn't be allowed to 'drift on' in office (Image: GETTY) He warned she could even face another second no-confidence vote in the Commons which could force her out. "It's almost certain she would lose, it would be humiliating," he said. But Justice Secretary David Gauke, an ally of the Prime Minister, backed her staying in office until Brexit is delivered. "I don't think we should be rushing to change our leader when there is a big task to be done," he told BBC Radio 5 live. European leaders rowed late into the night at the emergency EU Council meeting called to address the Brexit stalemate at Westminster. Related articles ‘It’s not my fault’ - Theresa May attacks MPs Furious Brexiteer Dale says UK has ‘become COLONY of EU’ Mr Macron repeatedly argued against the flexible arrangement put forward by European Council President Donald Tusk and others that would allow the UK to remain for a year but leave the bloc as soon as an exit agreement can be passed by MPs. Mrs May formally requested a shorter extension that would allow the UK to quit the EU by June 30. She spent an hour addressing leaders and taking questions before being asked to leave the room. She faced the stiffest opposition to her timetable from Mr Macron, who said: "It is with great impatience that I will listen to Theresa May, but as far as I'm concerned, nothing should be taken for granted, nothing. The time for decisions is now." May received a friendlier reception from Chancellor Merkel and Donald Tusk (Image: GETTY) Mrs May received a friendlier reception from German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The two leaders were seen laughing at an image on a tablet computer with Mr Tusk. Aides said it showed them both in their respective Parliaments wearing similar coloured jackets. Mrs Merkel told reporters: "I think we should discuss the Prime Minister's request openly and constructively." The unanimous agreement of all 27 remaining EU states is needed to avoid a no-deal exit at 11pm on the Brexit date set in law, tomorrow. But Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite rejected suggestions that meant countries like hers now held Britain's fate in their hands. May reminds under immense pressure from Tory MPs who stronlgy oppose any further delays (Image: GETTY) "It is only up to the UK to decide," she said. European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said Brussels was "fully prepared" to cope in the event of a no-deal exit however. "This is not our desired outcome but we are not afraid of it. We are prepared," he said. The Prime Minister remains under intense pressure from Conservative MPs who oppose any further delay. At Prime Minister's Questions, Tory backbencher Craig Tracey said she should abandon her "diluted deal" and take Britain out on World Trade Organisation terms. Brexit has now been delayed to October 31st (Image: GETTY) And another Tory backbencher, Henry Smith, warned that any extension to Article 50 would cost the UK £1billion a month. Mrs May however told MPs that Britain would already be outside the EU if the House of Commons had been prepared to vote for her Withdrawal Agreement last month or earlier. "The best Brexit for the UK is for us to be able to leave in an orderly way, to be able to leave with a deal," she said. "We could actually have been outside the EU by now if we had managed to get the deal through."All rights reserved for this news site express.co.uk and under his responsibility