Theresa May and Angela Merkel were joined by Donald Tusk in finding some welcome relief in their colour-coordinated appearances as the prime minister prepared for her summit speech

EU leaders gave Theresa May a six-month Hallowe’en Brexit extension last night with a stark warning not to “waste this time”.

After more than six hours of late-night talks in Brussels in which France clashed with Germany over the length and terms of the extension, the European Council agreed that Britain’s membership of the bloc could continue until October 31.

In a press conference in the early hours of this morning Mrs May claimed that the new extension still meant that the UK could leave the bloc earlier as long as the withdrawal agreement was ratified.

“What we have agreed tonight means that we can leave the European Union before June 30. What we need is to ensure that we have an agreement in parliament,