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| E.U. Agrees to Brexit Extension, Pushing Deadline to Jan. 31 | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| BRUSSELS — With just three days left until Britain is scheduled to leave the European Union, the bloc will extend the deadline by three months, to Jan. 31, one of its leaders said on Monday. | BRUSSELS — With just three days left until Britain is scheduled to leave the European Union, the bloc will extend the deadline by three months, to Jan. 31, one of its leaders said on Monday. |
| Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, said in a Twitter post that leaders of the 27 other European Union countries had agreed to the postponement. They were expected to formally grant it later Monday. | Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, said in a Twitter post that leaders of the 27 other European Union countries had agreed to the postponement. They were expected to formally grant it later Monday. |
| Mr. Tusk referred to the delay as a “flextension,” meaning that Britain can leave the bloc before Jan. 31 if the British Parliament passes all the relevant legislation. | Mr. Tusk referred to the delay as a “flextension,” meaning that Britain can leave the bloc before Jan. 31 if the British Parliament passes all the relevant legislation. |
| Britain is currently scheduled to withdraw on Thursday. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has negotiated withdrawal terms with Brussels, but so far he has been unable to get Parliament to approve the deal. That raised the prospect that Brexit could occur without a deal in place, which economists have warned could do serious damage. | Britain is currently scheduled to withdraw on Thursday. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has negotiated withdrawal terms with Brussels, but so far he has been unable to get Parliament to approve the deal. That raised the prospect that Brexit could occur without a deal in place, which economists have warned could do serious damage. |
| Top diplomats from European Union member countries convened Monday morning to reach the decision. Last week, France insisted that Britain be granted an extension only until the end of November, just enough time to allow Mr. Johnson to try once again to push his agreement through Parliament. | Top diplomats from European Union member countries convened Monday morning to reach the decision. Last week, France insisted that Britain be granted an extension only until the end of November, just enough time to allow Mr. Johnson to try once again to push his agreement through Parliament. |
| Most European leaders are eager for Brexit to happen, but the view prevailed that they should allow events in London to play out, rather than forcing political developments by granting a short extension. | Most European leaders are eager for Brexit to happen, but the view prevailed that they should allow events in London to play out, rather than forcing political developments by granting a short extension. |
| A longer postponement would allow British lawmakers time to examine the deal that Mr. Johnson struck with Brussels, or give him time to hold general elections in a bid to break the Brexit deadlock in Parliament. | A longer postponement would allow British lawmakers time to examine the deal that Mr. Johnson struck with Brussels, or give him time to hold general elections in a bid to break the Brexit deadlock in Parliament. |
| With the European Union granting an extension, the focus now shifts back to the British Parliament, where Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party and the opposition parties are jockeying frantically in advance of an expected election. | With the European Union granting an extension, the focus now shifts back to the British Parliament, where Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party and the opposition parties are jockeying frantically in advance of an expected election. |
| Mr. Johnson, who has been eager to go to the voters since he became prime minister in July, is expected ask Parliament later Monday to schedule an election for Dec. 12. But under a 2011 law, he would need the support of two-thirds of the House of Commons to do so. | Mr. Johnson, who has been eager to go to the voters since he became prime minister in July, is expected ask Parliament later Monday to schedule an election for Dec. 12. But under a 2011 law, he would need the support of two-thirds of the House of Commons to do so. |
| The Labour Party, which is deeply divided on the merits of holding an election now, is likely to reject Mr. Johnson’s motion. Analysts said that the situation was fluid and that Labour could shift, particularly since the party’s leader, Jeremy Corbyn, is viewed as more open to a campaign than some of his rank-and-file members. | The Labour Party, which is deeply divided on the merits of holding an election now, is likely to reject Mr. Johnson’s motion. Analysts said that the situation was fluid and that Labour could shift, particularly since the party’s leader, Jeremy Corbyn, is viewed as more open to a campaign than some of his rank-and-file members. |
| Over the weekend, a new strategy emerged that could give Mr. Johnson another route to a vote. The Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party said they would back a one-line amendment to the 2011 law, known as the Fixed-term Parliaments Act, that would allow an election on Dec. 9, now that the European Union has offered an extension until Jan. 31. | Over the weekend, a new strategy emerged that could give Mr. Johnson another route to a vote. The Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party said they would back a one-line amendment to the 2011 law, known as the Fixed-term Parliaments Act, that would allow an election on Dec. 9, now that the European Union has offered an extension until Jan. 31. |
| Each party has its own reasons for wanting a quick vote. The Liberal Democrats are eager for an election before Britain leaves the European Union because they are running on a platform of revoking Brexit altogether. That message that would be rendered irrelevant in any election held after Britain had already left. | Each party has its own reasons for wanting a quick vote. The Liberal Democrats are eager for an election before Britain leaves the European Union because they are running on a platform of revoking Brexit altogether. That message that would be rendered irrelevant in any election held after Britain had already left. |
| The Scottish National Party would like an election as soon as possible because its former leader, Alex Salmond, faces trial next year on charges of attempted rape and sexual assault — an unpalatable backdrop for its campaign. | The Scottish National Party would like an election as soon as possible because its former leader, Alex Salmond, faces trial next year on charges of attempted rape and sexual assault — an unpalatable backdrop for its campaign. |
| Mr. Johnson and his allies are likely to hammer away on the need for an election if Labour resists, blaming Labour for the prime minister’s inability to keep his promise to leave the European Union on Oct. 31, “do or die.” | Mr. Johnson and his allies are likely to hammer away on the need for an election if Labour resists, blaming Labour for the prime minister’s inability to keep his promise to leave the European Union on Oct. 31, “do or die.” |
| The Conservatives view a campaign as a way to paint Mr. Corbyn as afraid of facing the voters, and believe that they have the momentum. | The Conservatives view a campaign as a way to paint Mr. Corbyn as afraid of facing the voters, and believe that they have the momentum. |
| Matina Stevis-Gridneff reported from Brussels, and Mark Landler from London. | Matina Stevis-Gridneff reported from Brussels, and Mark Landler from London. |