European Council President Donald Tusk proposed to the UK a 12-month “flexible” extension to its Brexit date.
According to Tusk’s plan the UK could leave sooner if Parliament ratifies a deal within the 12 months, but his plan would need to be agreed by EU leaders at a summit next week.
British Prime Minister Theresa May wants to keep any delay as short as possible. On Wednesday, MPs voted – by a majority of one – to force May to ask the EU for a further extension.
On Friday the UK’s Conservatives and Labour Party are set to continue Brexit talks later and Attorney General Geoffrey Cox has told the BBC that if they fail, the delay is “likely to be a long one”. Downing Street said “technical” talks between Labour and the Conservatives on Thursday had been “productive” and would continue on Friday.
May has said a further postponement to the Brexit date is needed if the UK is to avoid leaving the EU without a deal, a scenario both EU leaders and many British MPs believe would create problems for businesses and cause difficulties at ports.
To do that, she and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn would need to agree a proposal for MPs to vote on before 10 April, when EU leaders are expected to consider any extension request at an emergency summit.
The UK is due to leave the EU on 12 April and, as yet, no withdrawal deal has been approved by MPs.
