A cross-party group of MPs has put forward a bill to prevent a no-deal Brexit in 10 days' time. If passed into law, the bill would require the PM to ask for an extension of Article 50 - which mandates the UK's exit from the EU - beyond the current 12 April deadline. Labour MP Yvette Cooper presented the bill - which supporters hope they can pass through the Commons in one day. The prime minister is expected to make a statement shortly. It comes after the cabinet, which remains split over Brexit, met for eight hours in No 10. The BBC's John Pienaar said Theresa May's ministers considered plans to "ramp up" no-deal Brexit preparations and a snap general election was also discussed. Ms Cooper's bill would make it UK law for the PM to ask for an extension to prevent a no-deal, but it would be up to the EU to grant it - or not. In March, MPs voted against leaving the EU without a deal, but it was not legally binding. Meanwhile, the EU's chief negotiator has said a no-deal Brexit is now more likely but can still be avoided. Michel Barnier said a long extension to the UK's 12 April exit date had "significant risks for the EU" and a "strong justification would be needed". France's President Emmanuel Macron and Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar are meeting in Paris to discuss the impact of Brexit. President Macron told reporters that the EU "cannot be hostage to the political crisis in the UK", and the government must come forward with "credible" reasons for an extension. He said these could include an election, second referendum, or alternative proposals for the future relationship, such as a customs union. Mr Varadkar said the UK was "consumed by Brexit", but the EU should not be. He said the EU "needs to be open" about any proposals the UK brings, including a longer extension, and they will do what they can to "assist". But he added: "We gave the UK some time, some space and some opportunity to come up with a way forward... [but] as things stand, they will leave on 12 April without a deal." Tory MP Sir Oliver Letwin, who supports Ms Cooper's bill, said: "This is a last-ditch attempt to prevent our country being exposed to the risks inherent in a no-deal exit. "We realise this is difficult. But it is definitely worth trying." Ms Cooper said the UK was "in a very dangerous situation" and MPs "have a responsibility to make sure we don't end up with a catastrophic no deal". Speaking to BBC Radio 4's World At One, she added: "We have been attempting to squeeze into just a couple of days a process that really should have been happening for the last two years - a process of trying to build a consensus around the best way forward. "It is what the prime minister should be doing. It is the prime minister's responsibility to ensure we don't leave the country less safe." AFP.