
brexit countdown_bg Created with Sketch.

Britain is staring down the barrel of another long Brexit delay today after EU leaders lined up behind a plan to keep the UK in the bloc until 2020.

Despite desperate pleading from Boris Johnson, European leaders are signalling they will approve MPs' request for a three-month extension until January 31.

The only major hold-out appears to be French president Emmanuel Macron, who is thought to be pushing for a much shorter postponement of just days past the current October 31 deadline.

In a fresh humiliation for the UK, it has emerged that the UK might not know its fate for days, throwing Mr Johnson's plans to trigger a snap general election into turmoil. Doubts had already been raised about his hopes as Jeremy Corbyn, whose support he would need to secure a poll, is facing a massive revolt from Labour Remainers who want a referendum first.

A meeting of EU ambassadors in Brussels this evening broke up with no firm conclusion.

Mr Johnson's hopes of forcing through the Brexit Bill through Parliament were dashed last night when MPs improved the deal in principle - but refused to sign off the 72-hour timetable that could have allowed the UK to leave on schedule.

Hopes had been raised this morning that Mr Johnson might be granted his wish of a short delay, when German foreign minister Heiko Maas suggested they would consider a Brextension of as little as two weeks.

But Mr Mass was later overruled by Angela Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert, who told told reporters the extension request would 'not fail due to Germany'.

Irish premier Leo Varadkar later came out in support of the push led by European Council president Donald Tusk to grant the full three-month extension.

How the EU holds the key to Britain's Brexit future EU leaders are mulling Britain's fate. They will decide over the next few days whether to grant Britain a short or long extension - or no extension at all. They are also considering whether they need to convene a special summit in Brussels to do this, or the 27 EU leaders can reach a consensus remotely. If leaders agree a short extension of a few days or weeks, Boris Johnson could try to get his deal over the line and agree a new timetable to get Brexit done. If they agree an extension until January 31 or beyond, Number 10 says it will pull the Bill and challenge Jeremy Corbyn to an election. It is thought this would be held before Christmas, with the last feasible date to hold a vote being December 12. After that civil servants have warned that schools will have to cancel nativity plays and other Christmas events to act as polling stations. It means that the next 48 hours and how the EU decides to act are crucial in how the future of Brexit and a general election plays out. Advertisement

Briefing in Brussels and expectations in Whitehall suggest that the final decision on the length of the 'Brextension' is unlikely to be made until Friday.

It can be done in writing this week if all the leaders agree, but if there is any dissent EU rules require it is deal with at a face-to-face session.

That has been pencilled in for Monday.

Mr Johnson has insisted he wants to hold a snap election if the EU dictates a long extension.

He today furiously accused MPs of handing control to Brussels after his efforts to get a Brexit deal through were thwarted - saying the bloc will now decide the country's fate 'on our behalf'.

A YouGov poll tonight suggested the public agrees, with 50 per cent backing an immediate election and 38 per cent against.

However, there are tensions in Downing Street over the strident messaging, with some long-term advisers urging him to focus on getting the Brexit Bill through rather than going to the country.

Mr Johnson would also need to secure backing from two-thirds of the Commons to trigger one - and it is unclear whether Jeremy Corbyn will back the move.

As Parliament is not sitting on Friday, an EU decision after tomorrow would mean that a motion on an early election cannot be tabled until Monday - and would go to a vote on Tuesday,

The earliest possible date for an election looks to be December 5, and even that is extremely tight.

Mr Johnson told Mr Tusk in a call this morning that there should be no Brexit delay, and that it is in the EU and UK's interests that Britain leaves the bloc on October 31, Downing Street has said.

Mr Maas had suggested any further extension to UK membership did not have to stretch into the new year.

'We need to know: What will be the reason for this?' Maas told private news channel n-tv on Wednesday.

'If it will be about pushing back the date by two or three weeks to allow lawmakers in London to implement the ratification of the exit bill in a reasonable way, I think this will rather not be a problem.'

A French diplomatic source said on Tuesday France is ready to grant an additional few days in order to facilitate the vote but rules out any extension beyond that.

Mr Macron has been the most outspoken and impatient among the 27's leaders on the issue.

'We'll see at the end of the week whether a purely technical extension of a few days is necessary to complete this parliamentary procedure,' the source said.

This morning Irish premier Leo Varadkar affirmed his support for President Tusk's idea, after they spoke.

He told the Irish parliament Mr Tusk was recommending that the EU27 'accept an extension until January 31 that could be terminated early if the House of Commons and House of Lords ratifies an agreement'.

'I agreed to that but that's not yet agreed by the 27 and we may have to have an emergency European Council over the course of the next few days to discuss it if he can't get consensus,' he told the Irish parliament.

Britain is staring down the barrel of another long Brexit delay today after EU leaders lined up behind a plan to keep the UK in the bloc until 2020. Angela Merkel's (pictured today) spokesman Steffen Seibert today hinted to reporters Germany was ready to line up behind a long extension

German Foreign minister Heiko Maas (left, with Angela Merkel in Berlin today) said in an interview on Wednesday that Germany would be open to a short-term Brexit delay, but was later overruled

The only major hold-out appears to be French president Emmanuel Macron (pictured yesterday), who is thought to be pushing for a much shorter postponement of just days past the current October 31 deadline. Mr Macron has been the most outspoken and impatient among the 27's leaders on the issue and favours a short Brextension

Boris Johnson (pictured today) will push for a general election if Brussels follows Donald Tusk's advice to grant another Brexit delay, a No 10 source revealed last night after MPs rejected the Prime Minister's three-day timetable for his Brexit bill

A YouGov poll tonight reveal the public wants a snap election: 50 per cent backed calling an immediate election and 38 per cent against

Time running out for pre-Christmas election MPs are fast running out of time to back a general election this side of Christmas. Under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act the Commons must vote to dissolve, before a five-week election campaign period. The Prime Minister has tried three times to call a general election but lost all three votes. If MPs held a fourth vote today and dissolved Parliament tomorrow, an election could be held on November 28. But while Jeremy Corbyn has indicated that he would back a vote he will not do so until the EU agrees a Brexit display, which could take until next week. This means December is more likely, with December 12 widely seen as the last day available before Christmas. Sir Mark Sedwill, the head of the Civil Service, is reported to have warned No 10 that going to the polls after December 12 could lead to difficulties arranging facilities. Many village halls and other locations used for national votes are expected to already be booked up for festive events like pantomimes and parties in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Holding an election in January would mean campaigning throughout the festive period, which is sure to prove unpopular with party volunteers who have to knock on doors. It would also risk alienating the public. But dissolving parliament after it returns in January would mean a general election in February, after any Brexit delay approved by the EU has ended. But it would give Mr Johnson time to restart his Brexit deal, with MPs having had enough time to study it he could get it through the Commons. Advertisement

It is thought EU leaders will make a decision by Monday. Theoretically, if they were to refuse, Britain could still leave without a deal next Thursday, on October 31.

However, in the wake of the vote last night, Donald Tusk, the President of the European Council, said he would recommend an extension to EU leaders. He had said earlier in the day that a 'No Deal' Brexit would never be the EU's choice.

'They noted that it would still be possible for the UK to leave before January 31st 2020 if the Withdrawal Agreement has been ratified in advance of that date,' a Dublin spokesman said.

'The matter is likely to be discussed further at tonight's meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives in Brussels.'

According to EU sources, member states may now grant a so-called flextension of three months until January 31, meaning the delay could come to an end early if the Commons has ratified the deal. However, three months could also allow time for a general election.

Mr Johnson was mandated by Parliament to formally request an extension until January 31 at the weekend by the Benn Act, which came into effect on Saturday night when MPs failed to pass a deal.

He ended up sending two letters – the one that he was forced to by the legislation, and another saying he believed a delay would be a mistake. In a pointed reference to that January 31 date, an EU Commission spokesman said after last night's vote: 'The European Commission takes note of tonight's result and expects the UK government to inform us about the next steps.

'Donald Tusk is consulting leaders on the UK's request for an extension until January 31, 2020.' Last night Mr Tusk said he would recommend to the EU's 27 remaining leaders that they approve the UK's request for an extension – under a 'written procedure'.

A 'written procedure' means EU leaders – who have to agree a delay unanimously – will make their choice remotely and not at a summit next week.

The European Parliament's Brexit negotiator, Guy Verhofstadt, reacted to the vote last night by suggesting an extension would be granted, but also having a dig at Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage.

He tweeted: 'You're all thinking: another extension. I am thinking: another three weeks listening to Farage.'

According to EU sources, any extension will likely involve the option of an early cut-off point.

One EU source said: 'I think any extension can be a flextension.' This could throw a lifeline to Mr Johnson because it would allow him to claim that the UK can still leave the EU only a few days or weeks after the October 31 deadline, which he pledged the UK would leave by 'do or die'.

Donald Tusk, the President of the European Council, said he would recommend an extension to EU leaders. He had said earlier in the day that a 'No Deal' Brexit would never be the EU's choice

Labour at war as shadow cabinet urge Corbyn to block Boris Johnson's bid for a general election Labour was today at war over whether to support an early general election amid growing fears the party will be decimated if it stays neutral on Brexit at a snap poll. Jeremy Corbyn wants to back holding an early election but he is under increasing pressure from some members of the shadow cabinet to block Boris Johnson from going to the country early. Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry and shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer are believed to be among a number of senior Labour figures who want Mr Corbyn to stand in the way of an election and pursue a second referendum, in the hope it would take the sting out of Brexit and give the party a better chance of victory when the next national ballot does take place. Labour's stance on the holding of a general election is becoming increasingly important after Mr Johnson's Brexit plans were scuppered. MPs backed his deal but then rejected his proposed Brext timetable, making hitting the October 31 deadline all but impossible and virtually guaranteeing the EU will offer a delay. If Brussels gives the UK a three month extension to January 31 - as has been mooted - Mr Johnson is expected to try to force a general election to break the Brexit impasse once and for all. But without the support of Labour he could struggle to get his wish because the most straight forward path to an election would require two thirds of MPs to back one taking place. Advertisement

The flextension would allow Britain to leave in November, December or early January – however long it takes the deal to be passed by MPs, sources confirmed.

However, the bloc is still waiting to hear what Mr Johnson plans to do next. Last night Mr Tusk continued to call round EU leaders to ask their feelings on an extension.

Immediately after the vote Irish premier Leo Varadkar tweeted: 'It's welcome that the House of Commons voted by a clear majority in favour of legislation needed to enact the Withdrawal Agreement.

'We will now await further developments from London and Brussels about next steps.'

MPs have thrown the fate of Britain's ability to leave with a deal into the hands of EU leaders, who could refuse to grant an extension. Countries such as France have suggested they could veto another delay.

Yesterday, before the Commons votes, French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said he saw 'no justification at this stage' for an additional delay.

However, member state diplomats say an extension will almost certainly be granted because they do not want to be blamed for No Deal, which could cripple Ireland.

Speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg yesterday, Mr Tusk told MEPs he would respond to the UK's request for a third delay beyond October 31 'in the coming days', but that a No Deal will 'never be our decision' – effectively confirming another extension.

Following a three-hour debate in which the majority of MEPs said they believed Britain should be granted an extension, Mr Tusk added: 'Through this you show common sense and the sense of dignity. After what I have heard in this chamber, I have no doubt that we should treat the British request for extension in all seriousness.'

The advantage of a flextension would be that it would allow for a 'technical' extension of just a few days or weeks if Mr Johnson decides to continue with getting the legislation through Parliament.

Yesterday EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said he regretted the amount of time devoted to Brexit during his five-year presidency.

He said: 'It's been a waste of time and a waste of energy.'

How MPs placed the fate of Britain in the hands of Brussels: EU will decide if UK's departure is delayed for just days or MONTHS, triggering likely election

Britain's Brexit fate is now in the hands of the European Union - despite the fact MPs last night gave their backing to Boris Johnson's divorce deal.

Mr Johnson won a vote on his agreement by 329 votes to 299 as a majority of MPs supported a Brexit deal for the first time.

But the Prime Minister's hopes of delivering on his 'do or die' pledge to take the UK out of the EU on October 31 with or without a deal were left in tatters after MPs then voted against his proposed Brexit timetable.

The PM was left in Brexit limbo after a handful of ex-Tory rebels and 19 Labour MPs supported his deal but then most of them switched to vote against fast-tracking the necessary Brexit legislation through Parliament.

The victory and subsequent defeat means that while the PM has a majority in favour of his deal he has no way of getting it agreed before the Halloween deadline.

As a result what happens next in the Brexit process will ultimately be decided by the EU.

Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, said after last night's votes that he wanted there to be a Brexit extension and the bloc is believed to be edging towards offering a delay to January 31, 2020.

If such an extension is put forward then there will almost certainly be an early general election.

Below are all the answers to all of the key questions as Brexit uncertainty continues to grow.

Why does the EU get to decide the UK's Brexit fate?

Mr Johnson last night asked MPs to vote on the Withdrawal Agreement Bill - the piece of legislation which will enshrine his deal in UK law and actually make an orderly Brexit happen.

MPs proceeded to give the so-called WAB a second reading - the first parliamentary hurdle all legislation must clear - by 329 votes to 299, a majority of 30.

He then lost the next vote as he asked MPs to agree to his plan to crash the WAB through the Commons in just three days in a last ditch bid to stick to the October 31 deadline.

MPs argued that was not enough time to properly scrutinise the 110-page document and they voted against the timetable by 322 votes to 308, a majority of 14.

Some 19 Labour rebels voted for the PM's deal along with more than a dozen former Tory Remainers who were stripped of the party whip earlier this year after backing a bid to block No Deal.

But just five Labour rebels then stuck by the government to support the so-called programme motion as most of them, along with most of the pro-EU former Tories, deserted Mr Johnson and consigned him to defeat.

With a majority in favour of his deal and a majority against hitting the Halloween deadline, Mr Johnson had no choice but to 'pause' the passage of the WAB to see what the EU does next.

Boris Johnson, pictured in the Commons today, faces having a Brexit delay forced on him by the EU

Mr Tusk said in a tweet last night that a Brexit delay is necessary in order to avoid a No Deal divorce

How long will the extension offered by the EU be?

Mr Johnson was forced at the weekend to ask the EU for a delay to January 31 under the terms of the anti-No Deal Benn Act, passed by rebel MPs, after he failed to secure support for his deal on Saturday.

The PM submitted a legally required letter to the EU asking for that delay but he also sent a separate letter to Mr Tusk telling him that he did not want any extension to be offered.

Mr Johnson again set out his opposition to any further Brexit delay as he addressed the Commons after last night's votes.

But Mr Tusk has appeared to dismiss Mr Johnson's calls and has taken the original request for an extension seriously.

It now looks likely that the EU will offer the UK a delay to January 31 but with a built-in termination clause.

That would mean that the delay would end at the point at which Mr Johnson is able to get his Brexit deal through the Commons should he choose to try again to get it passed.

Could the EU offer a shorter Brexit delay?

It could and a shorter delay would be more acceptable to Mr Johnson. It would provide more time for MPs to debate the PM's Brexit deal and for the government to get it through Parliament.

It would also keep the pressure on MPs and focus minds because they would know that they could not waste time.

Numerous EU nations like France are believed to favour a short delay on the grounds they just want Brexit done and dusted.

However, the majority view in the bloc is likely to be that a longer extension with a termination clause would allow the EU to have its cake and eat it.

Irish premier Leo Varadkar appeared to back an extension to the end of January in a statement issued following a call between the Taoiseach and Mr Tusk this morning.

The statement said: 'They noted that it would still be possible for the UK to leave before January 31st 2020 if the Withdrawal Agreement has been ratified in advance of that date.'

But Number 10 will object to such an approach because it believes a cliff-edge/hard deadline is necessary to force MPs to finally make a decision.

When will the EU make a decision and will there be an emergency summit?

There is no set deadline for a formal response but with just eight days to go until the current Brexit deadline the bloc is expected to move swiftly.

Mr Tusk said in his letter that he believed a delay could be agreed by European leaders just by writing letters as he suggested an emergency summit in Brussels would not be needed.

Such a summit had been penciled in to take place on Monday October 28 but that now looks like it won't be going ahead.

Does the PM have to accept a delay if it is offered?

Yes. The Benn Act states that if the EU offers a delay to January 31 then the PM must accept it even though he is ardently against any extension.

He would also be legally oblidged to accept any other proposed extension.

Will there be an early general election?

If the EU offers a Brexit delay to the end of January all signs suggest that Mr Johnson will shelve his deal and pursue a general election.

He is likely to argue in such circumstances that Parliament is blocking Brexit and the only way to break the impasse is to change the make up of the Commons.

Downing Street views a three month delay - even one with a termination clause - as totally unacceptable because it would remove any pressure on MPs to make a final decision.

If there is no prospect of Mr Johnson being able to get his deal through Parliament then he will try to push the nuclear button.

He has tried twice to force an early poll but was thwarted by opposition MPs.

However, Jeremy Corbyn and other opposition leaders have said that once a No Deal Brexit on October 31 has been ruled out then they will back holding an election.

So in theory if the EU offers a delay to January 31 then there should be nothing standing in the way of a snap poll.

How can an early election be held?

There are two ways in which the UK can have an early election. Both are set out in the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011.

The first is that a Commons vote is held on a motion that simply states: 'That there shall be an early parliamentary general election.'

In order to pass, that motion must be backed by at least two thirds of MPs which means it would be dependent on the support of Labour in order to succeed.

Mr Johnson has tried this path twice but he failed on both attempts as opposition MPs refused to back a snap poll.

The second route to an election is if the government was toppled in a vote of no confidence which convention dictates can only be asked for by the Leader of the Opposition.

If such a vote was held and it succeeded - potentially with the government opting to abstain in order to lose on purpose - there would then follow a 14 day period in which another government could try to be formed.

If no new government could command the support of a Commons majority by the close of that period then an early election would be automatically triggered.

So is the PM's Brexit deal dead?

No, it is very much alive. There is a majority in the Commons in favour of his deal.

The sticking point is the amount of time the government wants to give MPs to scrutinise it.

Mr Johnson proposed giving MPs just three days to debate and vote on the Bill but if he was able to find a way to give MPs more time then there is a real chance that the deal could be agreed.

With that in mind, Mr Johnson met with Mr Corbyn this morning to see if they could agree to a compromise programme motion to allow the WAB to make progress.

Such an approach would almost certainly require a short delay beyond Halloween but Mr Johnson could swallow that if Brexit was finally in sight.

However, those talks are believed to have descended into acrimony which means it now looks unlikely that the PM will try to bring his deal back - at least in the short term.

The potential way forward could see Mr Johnson shelve the WAB, force an election and then, if he is able to win a majority, present his deal to the Commons for a second time.

Will the UK leave the EU on October 31?

Almost certainly not. The EU has made clear that it will not be responsible for a No Deal Brexit and the PM is legally required to accept a delay if one is offered.

Meanwhile, there is not enough time for the PM to get his deal through Parliament before Halloween.

Everything currently points towards the UK's departure date being pushed back.