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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)
Q: What is the point of the review in June?
Tusk says point of the review in June is to inform EU leaders what is happening. It is not a point of decision.
Juncker says in June they will just be taking stock.
Tusk says June is not a cliff edge, or a moment to take new decisions.
Tusk plays down prospect of the EU ending the extension in June under the review procedure.
Q: You said the extension was shorter than you expected. Isn’t it the worst of all words? Not short enough to force the issue, but not long enough to allow real change?
Tusk says it is better to have something than nothing.
He says six months “could be enough for a good solution if there is goodwill” and a majority for a solution in the Commons.
He says he is generally satisfied. He says the idea of a flexible extension was not so obvious to some EU leaders.
He says the intention is to finalise this in October. That is the wish and the hope.
But he says he is too old to exclude another scenario. Everything is possible, he says.
Tusk does not rule out EU agreeing a further article 50 extension in October.
Juncker says a no-deal Brexit would have been a disaster.
He says he likes the decision. The end date has been fixed for 31 October. He says he is due to leave his job on 1 November.
Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European commission, is speaking now.
He says the commission is happy with this outcome.
He says, although the UK will remain a member, sometimes the EU27 will meet as 27.
He says there is precedent for this. He says he originally proposed that the Eurogroup of countries should meet on their own. At the time there was opposition to this, but it made sense.
He says there will probably be a European election in the UK.
He says people think they only talk about Brexit at the EU. When he reads the British press it is just Brexit, Brexit, Brexit.
But the EU has reached an agreement with China this week. But this was not widely reported.
Donald Tusk, the president of the European council, says the EU has decided to grant the UK a flexible extension until 31 October.
During this time, what happens will be in the hands of the UK. It can ratify the withdrawal agreement, and leave. It can change strategy, although not the withdrawal agreement. Or it can decide to revoke.
He says the UK will remain a friend of the EU.
He says this extension is shorter than he expected, but long enough to allow the UK to find a solution. He ends:
Please, do not waste this time.
Here are two EU leaders on the article 50 extension decision.
From the Irish taoiseach Leo Varadkar
And we’re done. (1) Flextension to Oct 31st (2) We’ll take stock of situation at our regular summit in June (3) UK to take part in @Europarl_EN election or must leave on June 1st without a deal. Good night !
From Lars Løkke Rasmussen, the Danish prime minister
One more chance for the UK. Managed to avoid a #NoDealBrexit tonight. New deadline 31.10. Up to the UK to find solutions.
Sky’s Faisal Islam has more on the legal process that will lead to Brexit being delayed.
It’s official ... when published in Official Journal of EU tomorrow as an official EU Council decision (probably after a formal letter confirming agreement for Tim Barrow) the EU law Brexit date will be changed to October 31st... Govt will then table U.K. law SI & No Deal off. https://t.co/0ptmx7VB1E
From ITV’s Paul Brand
Understand PM now on phone to cabinet members.
The main Tusk/Juncker press conference will take place in about 10 minutes.
LIVE in +/- 10 min - Press Conference at the end of the #EUCO meetingby @eucopresident Tusk FOLOW it here: https://t.co/xIsePLiT1A#Brexit extension
Donald Tusk, the European council president, has posted this on Twitter.
EU27/UK have agreed a flexible extension until 31 October. This means additional six months for the UK to find the best possible solution.
This means Theresa May has accepted the offer.
Which means quite soon we should get the press conferences ...
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.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.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.Here is some more comment on the 31 October decision.
From Sky’s Lewis GoodallFrom 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.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 RaynerFrom 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 referendumTo 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 WaterfieldFrom 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 budgetsNota 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.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.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)#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.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 #F24I *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.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 otherOn 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.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/lE7pnkytbkWorst 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.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/aXeYA5TWZYThe 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.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.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.
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:
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.
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 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 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 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 months
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/EtmyhuFdb3
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"
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 -JM
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/43rqRMULKh
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"
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.
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?
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. #Brexit
From 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.