British Conservative Party MP Oliver Letwin walks in Westminster in London, Britain, April 3, 2019. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

LONDON (Reuters) - British Conservative lawmaker Oliver Letwin said on Wednesday that legislation he hopes to pass to force Prime Minister Theresa May to seek a delay to Brexit will give her backing in her request to the European Union.

Some lawmakers questioned whether the proposed legislation was still needed after May said she planned to seek a further short extension to the Article 50 negotiating period ahead of April 12, when Britain is otherwise due to leave without a deal.

Letwin told parliament that if passed, the bill would “provide the prime minister with backing for that request to the EU ... in an unequivocal and transparent way.”