Mr Rutte said the UK is “in a very bad position right now” as he admitted he is “angry” at the current Brexit deadlock. The Dutch leader also compared Prime Minister Theresa May to a character who refuses to admit defeat despite losing all his limbs as he described his “respect” for the leader. He told Dutch broadcaster WNL: “Look, I have every respect for Theresa May.
“She reminds me occasionally of that character from Monty Python where all the arms and legs are cut off but he then tells the opponent: ‘Let’s call it a draw.’
“She’s incredible. She goes on and on.
“At the same time, I do not blame her, but British politics.”
He was comparing Mrs May to a knight who declares “I’m invincible” even after having all of his limbs cut off by King Arthur in 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
“You can see what happens when a country puts everything on the roulette wheel and takes a risk, and the whole thing collapses.
“That is what is happening. Economic, financial, politically, England is in a very bad position right now.”
Mrs May is hoping to get her Brexit deal through in a third vote this week after it has been rejected twice before ahead of the March 29 deadline.
But the Tory leader could duck a third Commons showdown on her Withdrawal Agreement, resulting in a long delay to Brexit unless Tory rebels fall in line.
Cabinet ministers said another vote on the deal would not be held unless the Prime Minister was confident of overturning last week’s overwhelming defeat.
Unless the 149-vote humiliation can be reversed, Mrs May would be forced to seek a lengthy extension to the Article 50 process, with the UK required to elect MEPs in May, Chancellor Philip Hammond said.
When quizzed over a possible Brexit delay, Mr Rutte added: ““If the British ask for a delay, interesting, but what do you want with that delay?”
The Tory party is also in the midst of a row about Cabinet responsibility, after four senior ministers defied the PM’s orders to vote against the Brexit motion on Thursday.
