This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2019/apr/10/brexit-eu-to-decide-on-uk-extension-live-news

The article has changed 28 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 20 Version 21
EU leaders agree to delay Brexit until 31 October – live news EU leaders agree to delay Brexit until 31 October – live news
(32 minutes later)
Speaking on ITV’s Peston earlier this evening, John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, said he thought that the government/Labour talks intended to establish a Brexit compromise had the potential to produce a deal, but that so far there there were still “fundamental disagreements” between the two sides about the future relationship between the UK and the EU.
He said that officials on both sides would be holding talks later on Thursday. And there was a possibility of the politicians meeting again on Friday, he said.
Here is some more comment on the 31 October decision.
From Sky’s Lewis Goodall
I’m just gonna say it now. If we don’t have an election or referendum before then we will be back here in the week of the 31st October and repeating all of this again.
From the Telegraph’s Gordon Rayner
To sum up:- EU imposes Oct 31 Brexit delay on UK- Britain to take part in EU elections- Pressure on May to quit before October to allow new leader to lead party into annual conference- Brexiteer outrage at Britain having to elect MEPs 3yrs after referendum
From the Times’s Bruno Waterfield
Nota bene31 Oct is not a final, final Brexit date (not least because its All Souls Day). There's a scheduled #EUCO on 17 Oct that could extend. 31 Mar 2020 is still the default end date - as before an expected April #EUCO to thrash out 2021-2027 EU budgets
Some minor changes are being made to the extension plan, ITV’s Paul Brand and Le Soir’s Jurek Kuczkiewicz report.
Hearing PM disagreed with some of the detail of EU27’s plan, so Tusk has had to go back to them. We may be a little while longer yet.
#Euco conclusions yet being slightly amended? Tusk currently finalizing agreement with May. But the main points (31OCT+ June review) agreed. Review will simply mean a report by Tusk. Wording being slightly enhanced on UK sincere cooperation. (Dipl source)
Emmanuel Macron will not be holding a press conference tonight, Catherine Nicholson from France24 reports.
I *think* this is the first time Emmanuel Macron hasn’t done a formal press conference after an EU summit.Still waiting for info on Tusk/May tête-à-tête #Brexit #Brextension #EUCO #F24
The Sun’s Steve Hawkes agrees.
On a serious note, six months is possibly the worst outcome for business. Not going to unlock any investment and keeps that huge cloud over UK PLC. IMHO the Govt owes it to the nation to sort this by its original deadline of June 30 one way or the other
This is from Mujtaba Rahman, the former EU official who produces well-regarded Brexit analysis for the Euraasia Group consultancy.
Worst of all worlds? Big enough kick to take pressure off Govt/MPs. Not long enough for meaningful political change in UK (leadership election & GE). But avoids accident ahead of EP elex; keeps Brexit off EU agenda over Summer when leaders decide on top jobs & mandate of next COM https://t.co/lE7pnkytbk
Jack Blanchard from Politico Europe has some good news for MPs.
The most important news of the night. A Brexit extension means Easter recess is ON, and starts tomorrow afternoon pic.twitter.com/aXeYA5TWZY
By tomorrow afternoon Blanchard means Thursday afternoon.
Ministers were planning to ask MPs to sit on Friday, and on Monday and on Tuesday next week. But those plans have now been scrapped, and the Easter recess starts at the end of proceedings later today.
Some of you may be wondering whether, under the terms of the Yvette Cooper bill (the one passed on Monday, against the wishes of the government, requiring the PM to request an article 50 extension) Theresa May has to come back to the Commons and get MPs to agree the new article 50 extension timetable, given that it is different from the one MPs voted to support on Tuesday.Some of you may be wondering whether, under the terms of the Yvette Cooper bill (the one passed on Monday, against the wishes of the government, requiring the PM to request an article 50 extension) Theresa May has to come back to the Commons and get MPs to agree the new article 50 extension timetable, given that it is different from the one MPs voted to support on Tuesday.
The answer is no. The bill, as originally drafted, would have required a second vote in the Commons in these circumstances. But when the bill was in the Lords an amendment passed by Lord Goldsmith, the Labour peer, removed this requirement. Goldsmith argued that it would create uncertainty, because the PM could end up agreeing a new date at the EU summit and then needing to obtain retrospective backing for it in the Commons.The answer is no. The bill, as originally drafted, would have required a second vote in the Commons in these circumstances. But when the bill was in the Lords an amendment passed by Lord Goldsmith, the Labour peer, removed this requirement. Goldsmith argued that it would create uncertainty, because the PM could end up agreeing a new date at the EU summit and then needing to obtain retrospective backing for it in the Commons.
From the Telegraph’s Christopher Hope:From the Telegraph’s Christopher Hope:
Members of the 1922 tell me PM will be gone by late May. One says: “If we are in the European elections the calls on her to resign will be massive. Even her supporters would say she is a dead duck. Then we will be into a position of runners and riders and a new leader by July.”Members of the 1922 tell me PM will be gone by late May. One says: “If we are in the European elections the calls on her to resign will be massive. Even her supporters would say she is a dead duck. Then we will be into a position of runners and riders and a new leader by July.”
Here is some Twitter comment on the implications of a new 31 October deadline.Here is some Twitter comment on the implications of a new 31 October deadline.
From the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg:From the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg:
1. Does October really make a difference? Theoretically allows May to wrap up phase one before Tories officially have another chance to oust her1. Does October really make a difference? Theoretically allows May to wrap up phase one before Tories officially have another chance to oust her
2. But it's not clear that it's enough of a delay really to have a significant go at a new approach - nor is it short enough to apply a tight deadline to achieve unlikely success in cross party talks2. But it's not clear that it's enough of a delay really to have a significant go at a new approach - nor is it short enough to apply a tight deadline to achieve unlikely success in cross party talks
3. Most important thing tonight is that UK is NOT leaving on Friday without a deal - but will malcontents in Tory party think October deadline is a big enough window to try to move the PM out, have a leadership contest and install a new leader with a different tack3. Most important thing tonight is that UK is NOT leaving on Friday without a deal - but will malcontents in Tory party think October deadline is a big enough window to try to move the PM out, have a leadership contest and install a new leader with a different tack
4. It is enough time for a leadership contest - minister already in touch to say it's enough time to start competition after Easter, install new leader by early summer, PM stays on for now in name only, with new leader in place within months4. It is enough time for a leadership contest - minister already in touch to say it's enough time to start competition after Easter, install new leader by early summer, PM stays on for now in name only, with new leader in place within months
From my colleague Rowena Mason:From my colleague Rowena Mason:
6 months is quite a tight timetable to replace May as Tory leader and then call a general election to gain mandate for "reset" Brexit strategy - which is why some Eurosceptics were increasingly attracted to a year https://t.co/EtmyhuFdb36 months is quite a tight timetable to replace May as Tory leader and then call a general election to gain mandate for "reset" Brexit strategy - which is why some Eurosceptics were increasingly attracted to a year https://t.co/EtmyhuFdb3
From the Sun’s Steve Hawkes:From the Sun’s Steve Hawkes:
Brexit used to be March 29But EU leaders now setting October 31 as new deadlineLong enough for a referendum, but not long enough for new leader to come in and renegotiate etcOne Tory just said: "Remain has won"Brexit used to be March 29But EU leaders now setting October 31 as new deadlineLong enough for a referendum, but not long enough for new leader to come in and renegotiate etcOne Tory just said: "Remain has won"
This is from the Maltese prime minister Joseph Muscat.This is from the Maltese prime minister Joseph Muscat.
A #Brexit extension until 31 October is sensible since it gives time to UK to finally choose its way. The review in June will allow #EUCO to take stock of the situation -JMA #Brexit extension until 31 October is sensible since it gives time to UK to finally choose its way. The review in June will allow #EUCO to take stock of the situation -JM
Here is footage of Theresa May arriving back at the summit HQ to be briefed on what the EU27 have decided to offer.Here is footage of Theresa May arriving back at the summit HQ to be briefed on what the EU27 have decided to offer.
Arrival of #UK @theresa_may rejoining the special #EUCO #Article50 meeting, taking place on 10 April 2019, in #Brussels. #Brexit #extension https://t.co/43rqRMULKhArrival of #UK @theresa_may rejoining the special #EUCO #Article50 meeting, taking place on 10 April 2019, in #Brussels. #Brexit #extension https://t.co/43rqRMULKh
The Telegraph’s Peter Foster has more about how Emmanuel Macron’s intransigence has gone down badly with EU officialdom.The Telegraph’s Peter Foster has more about how Emmanuel Macron’s intransigence has gone down badly with EU officialdom.
EU diplomat despairs at the logic of Oct 31 extension - an ugly midpoint between Macron and Merkel, driving by healing Franco-German gap rather than rational approach to #Brexit issue. Fury at FR "Tonight's summit was not about the UK but about France"EU diplomat despairs at the logic of Oct 31 extension - an ugly midpoint between Macron and Merkel, driving by healing Franco-German gap rather than rational approach to #Brexit issue. Fury at FR "Tonight's summit was not about the UK but about France"
According to the Sun’s Nick Gutteridge, some EU officials have not been impressed by Emmanuel Macron’s conduct tonight.According to the Sun’s Nick Gutteridge, some EU officials have not been impressed by Emmanuel Macron’s conduct tonight.
So a compromise has been reached. Extension to Oct 31, with a review point in June where UK's compliance with conditions (especially holding EU elections) can be checked. Macron, who stood starkly alone for much of the discussion, has lost some respect among EU diplomats tonight.So a compromise has been reached. Extension to Oct 31, with a review point in June where UK's compliance with conditions (especially holding EU elections) can be checked. Macron, who stood starkly alone for much of the discussion, has lost some respect among EU diplomats tonight.
Nothing is ever simple in Brexit. As the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg points out, faced with a choice between a short article 50 extension and a long one, the EU has settled for neither – or something in between.Nothing is ever simple in Brexit. As the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg points out, faced with a choice between a short article 50 extension and a long one, the EU has settled for neither – or something in between.
If it's end of Oct with review at end of June, does that count as short or long? Longer than PM wanted, but shorter than she expected - surely not another classic EU fudge?If it's end of Oct with review at end of June, does that count as short or long? Longer than PM wanted, but shorter than she expected - surely not another classic EU fudge?
It’s official. This is from Donald Tusk, the president of the European council.It’s official. This is from Donald Tusk, the president of the European council.
EU27 has agreed an extension of Art. 50. I will now meet PM @theresa_may for the UK government's agreement. #BrexitEU27 has agreed an extension of Art. 50. I will now meet PM @theresa_may for the UK government's agreement. #Brexit
From Sky’s Lewis GoodallFrom Sky’s Lewis Goodall
If October 31st is the new Brexit date then, according to what the @ElectoralCommUK told me last week, there is *just* enough time for a referendum, if parliament were so minded.If October 31st is the new Brexit date then, according to what the @ElectoralCommUK told me last week, there is *just* enough time for a referendum, if parliament were so minded.