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| Brexit: Vote on Theresa May's deal may not happen next week | Brexit: Vote on Theresa May's deal may not happen next week |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Theresa May has told MPs that a third vote on her Brexit deal may not take place next week "if it appears there is not sufficient support". | Theresa May has told MPs that a third vote on her Brexit deal may not take place next week "if it appears there is not sufficient support". |
| It comes after European Council President Donald Tusk said Brexit's fate was "in Britain's hands". | It comes after European Council President Donald Tusk said Brexit's fate was "in Britain's hands". |
| EU leaders have agreed to delay the departure date by at least two weeks. | EU leaders have agreed to delay the departure date by at least two weeks. |
| If MPs approve the PM's deal next week, Brexit would be delayed from 29 March until 22 May. Otherwise the UK has until 12 April to make a new plan. | If MPs approve the PM's deal next week, Brexit would be delayed from 29 March until 22 May. Otherwise the UK has until 12 April to make a new plan. |
| In a letter to all MPs on Friday evening, Mrs May said: "If it appears that there is not sufficient support to bring the deal back next week, or the House (of Commons) rejects it again, we can ask for another extension before 12 April - but that will involve holding European Parliament elections." | |
| She offered to talk to MPs over the coming days "as Parliament prepares to take momentous decisions". | |
| She also referred to her televised address on Wednesday, in which she blamed the delay to Brexit on MPs. | She also referred to her televised address on Wednesday, in which she blamed the delay to Brexit on MPs. |
| Mrs May acknowledged that "a number of colleagues had raised concerns" about her words and it had not been her intention to make their "difficult job... any more difficult". | |
| Speaking in Brussels on Friday, Mr Tusk said that until 12 April, "anything is possible" including a much longer delay or cancelling Brexit altogether. | Speaking in Brussels on Friday, Mr Tusk said that until 12 April, "anything is possible" including a much longer delay or cancelling Brexit altogether. |
| He said he was "really happy" the 27 EU leaders had reached a unanimous decision to extend the two-year Article 50 process, under which the UK was due to leave the EU on 29 March. | He said he was "really happy" the 27 EU leaders had reached a unanimous decision to extend the two-year Article 50 process, under which the UK was due to leave the EU on 29 March. |
| "It means that until 12 April, anything is possible: a deal, a long extension if the United Kingdom decided to rethink its strategy, or revoking Article 50, which is a prerogative of the UK government. | "It means that until 12 April, anything is possible: a deal, a long extension if the United Kingdom decided to rethink its strategy, or revoking Article 50, which is a prerogative of the UK government. |
| "The fate of Brexit is in the hands of our British friends. As the EU, we are prepared for the worst, but hope for the best. As you know, hope dies last." | "The fate of Brexit is in the hands of our British friends. As the EU, we are prepared for the worst, but hope for the best. As you know, hope dies last." |
| According to the final summit conclusions, the UK is expected to "indicate a way forward" before 12 April, if MPs do not approve the withdrawal deal negotiated with the EU, which would then be considered by the European Council. | |
| The UK must decide by then whether it will take part in European Parliamentary elections from 23-26 May - if it does not, then a long delay would become "impossible", Mr Tusk said. | |
| Timeline | |
| 29 March: Current Brexit date in UK law | |
| 12 April: If MPs do not approve the withdrawal deal next week - "all options will remain open" until this date. The UK must propose a way forward before this date for consideration by EU leaders | |
| 22 May: If MPs do approve the deal next week, Brexit will be delayed until this date | |
| 23-26 May: European Parliamentary elections are held across member states | |
| On Friday, Mrs May's deputy David Lidington met opposition parties to discuss how MPs could vote on alternatives to the government's Brexit plan next week. | |
| These could include options such as holding another referendum, leaving with no deal or pursuing a closer economic arrangement such as the "Common Market 2.0" plan. |