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| What next for Brexit, May's deal and the European elections? | What next for Brexit, May's deal and the European elections? |
| (4 days later) | |
| It was an epic night, starting with a joke between Theresa May and Angela Merkel, involving nine hours of talks over a dinner of scallop salad, cod loin and macadamia nut parfait, and finishing with an extension and a warning to Britain from the European council leader, Donald Tusk: “Do not waste this time.” | It was an epic night, starting with a joke between Theresa May and Angela Merkel, involving nine hours of talks over a dinner of scallop salad, cod loin and macadamia nut parfait, and finishing with an extension and a warning to Britain from the European council leader, Donald Tusk: “Do not waste this time.” |
| What was agreed overnight by the EU? | What was agreed overnight by the EU? |
| In the small hours of Thursday morning, the EU agreed with May to extend article 50 for a second time, delaying Brexit until 31 October. What happens until that deadline, said Tusk, will be in the hands of the UK. | In the small hours of Thursday morning, the EU agreed with May to extend article 50 for a second time, delaying Brexit until 31 October. What happens until that deadline, said Tusk, will be in the hands of the UK. |
| “This extension is as flexible as I expected, but a lot shorter than I expected, but it’s still enough to find the best possible solution. Please do not waste this time,” said Tusk. | “This extension is as flexible as I expected, but a lot shorter than I expected, but it’s still enough to find the best possible solution. Please do not waste this time,” said Tusk. |
| Catch up with all the events of the night here in Andrew Sparrow’s live blog. | Catch up with all the events of the night here in Andrew Sparrow’s live blog. |
| Does that mean Brexit day happens at Halloween? | Does that mean Brexit day happens at Halloween? |
| Not necessarily. It will be a “flextension”. After what Merkel described as “intense” discussions, it was agreed the UK still had three choices: it could ratify the existing withdrawal agreement and leave at any time between now and Halloween; it could revoke article 50 and remain in the bloc; or it could leave without a deal. But Tusk also made clear that the EU could extend article 50 again in October. | Not necessarily. It will be a “flextension”. After what Merkel described as “intense” discussions, it was agreed the UK still had three choices: it could ratify the existing withdrawal agreement and leave at any time between now and Halloween; it could revoke article 50 and remain in the bloc; or it could leave without a deal. But Tusk also made clear that the EU could extend article 50 again in October. |
| European parliament elections take place across the UK and the rest of the EU, with any campaign likely to be dominated in the UK by smaller protest parties including Nigel Farage’s Brexit party and Ukip, as well as Change UK. | European parliament elections take place across the UK and the rest of the EU, with any campaign likely to be dominated in the UK by smaller protest parties including Nigel Farage’s Brexit party and Ukip, as well as Change UK. |
| Results of the European elections are declared from 10pm, with the Conservatives expecting massive losses. From the limited amount of polling that has been carried out so far, the Brexit party or Labour look like the probable winners. | Results of the European elections are declared from 10pm, with the Conservatives expecting massive losses. From the limited amount of polling that has been carried out so far, the Brexit party or Labour look like the probable winners. |
| Theresa May is planing to bring her withdrawal agreement back to to parliament for another vote. | |
| This is the crucial date past which May said she would not countenance the UK staying in the EU. May must have passed her withdrawal deal before this date in order avoid British MEPs taking up their seats. | This is the crucial date past which May said she would not countenance the UK staying in the EU. May must have passed her withdrawal deal before this date in order avoid British MEPs taking up their seats. |
| The Commons is expected to return from summer recess, bar any early recall to deal with a Brexit crisis. | The Commons is expected to return from summer recess, bar any early recall to deal with a Brexit crisis. |
| The Labour and Conservative party conferences are held on consecutive weeks. | The Labour and Conservative party conferences are held on consecutive weeks. |
| MPs return to parliament after the party conference season, 18 working days before the UK would be due to leave the EU. | MPs return to parliament after the party conference season, 18 working days before the UK would be due to leave the EU. |
| This is the last practical polling date on which a prime minister could hold a general election or second referendum – the final Thursday before the next meeting of the European council. | This is the last practical polling date on which a prime minister could hold a general election or second referendum – the final Thursday before the next meeting of the European council. |
| EU leaders meet for the final meeting of the European council before the UK’s extension is due to expire. | EU leaders meet for the final meeting of the European council before the UK’s extension is due to expire. |
| The six-month article 50 extension will expire. | The six-month article 50 extension will expire. |
| The next date on which Tory MPs can hold a confidence vote in Theresa May, if she remains at the helm. | The next date on which Tory MPs can hold a confidence vote in Theresa May, if she remains at the helm. |
| Rowena Mason | Rowena Mason |
| Where does this leave Theresa May ? | Where does this leave Theresa May ? |
| At a press conference at 3am in Brussels she vowed to carry on to fight to get her withdrawal agreement over the line before 22 May to avoid the need for elections to the European parliament. She said: “The choices we now face are stark and the timetable is clear.” | At a press conference at 3am in Brussels she vowed to carry on to fight to get her withdrawal agreement over the line before 22 May to avoid the need for elections to the European parliament. She said: “The choices we now face are stark and the timetable is clear.” |
| Theresa May stands by pledge to cling on until Brexit deal is done | Theresa May stands by pledge to cling on until Brexit deal is done |
| But the six-month extension is also perilous. It immediately puts her in the danger zone, allowing enough time for a leadership challenge, a general election and a second referendum. | But the six-month extension is also perilous. It immediately puts her in the danger zone, allowing enough time for a leadership challenge, a general election and a second referendum. |
| Are there conditions? | Are there conditions? |
| Yes. | Yes. |
| The EU will not reopen the withdrawal agreement but it can discuss changes in the political declaration. | The EU will not reopen the withdrawal agreement but it can discuss changes in the political declaration. |
| There will be a review at the end of June to take stock of progress. | There will be a review at the end of June to take stock of progress. |
| The UK must continue to be a member of the EU with “sincere cooperation” in the process and will remain a full member of the bloc with all voting rights. | The UK must continue to be a member of the EU with “sincere cooperation” in the process and will remain a full member of the bloc with all voting rights. |
| The EU will not reopen the withdrawal agreement but it can discuss changes in the political declaration. | The EU will not reopen the withdrawal agreement but it can discuss changes in the political declaration. |
| There will be a review at the end of June to take stock of progress. | There will be a review at the end of June to take stock of progress. |
| The UK must continue to be a member of the EU with “sincere cooperation” in the process and will remain a full member of the bloc with all voting rights. | The UK must continue to be a member of the EU with “sincere cooperation” in the process and will remain a full member of the bloc with all voting rights. |
| What about Jacob Rees-Mogg’s warning the UK could disrupt EU business? | What about Jacob Rees-Mogg’s warning the UK could disrupt EU business? |
| The sincere cooperation is not legally binding but Tusk warned that the UK “could not use any political blockings or tricks to be destructive or to stop our work”. Tusk dismissed Rees-Mogg’s warning that the UK should be “as difficult as possible” if it had to remain in the EU any longer, describing it as “nothing new”. Tusk said “the possibilities for the UK to block are very, very limited” because of the qualified majority voting system. | The sincere cooperation is not legally binding but Tusk warned that the UK “could not use any political blockings or tricks to be destructive or to stop our work”. Tusk dismissed Rees-Mogg’s warning that the UK should be “as difficult as possible” if it had to remain in the EU any longer, describing it as “nothing new”. Tusk said “the possibilities for the UK to block are very, very limited” because of the qualified majority voting system. |
| Could June be another cliff-edge? | Could June be another cliff-edge? |
| No. The European commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, insisted this would “not be another cliff-edge”. Tusk said: “June is not for decisions about the extension; the intention is not to discuss but to inform member states about the current situation.” | No. The European commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, insisted this would “not be another cliff-edge”. Tusk said: “June is not for decisions about the extension; the intention is not to discuss but to inform member states about the current situation.” |
| What about the European parliament elections? | What about the European parliament elections? |
| The UK will also be required to hold elections if it is still in the EU on 22 May. The government must inform the Electoral Commission and the European parliament of its intentions to hold electionson 12 April. May hopes that even if new MEPs are voted in, they will not take up their seats when the new parliament convenes on 2 July if she can get her deal ratified before 30 June. | The UK will also be required to hold elections if it is still in the EU on 22 May. The government must inform the Electoral Commission and the European parliament of its intentions to hold electionson 12 April. May hopes that even if new MEPs are voted in, they will not take up their seats when the new parliament convenes on 2 July if she can get her deal ratified before 30 June. |
| May finds a note of harmony in Brussels as Macron sings out of tune | May finds a note of harmony in Brussels as Macron sings out of tune |
| Was the deal unanimous? | Was the deal unanimous? |
| Yes, but it took two rounds of talks after the French president, Emmanuel Macron, enraged fellow leaders by opposing a long extension, with only three states, including Belgium, showing any support. The majority, 17 member states, favoured a long extension until the end of December or March next year. | Yes, but it took two rounds of talks after the French president, Emmanuel Macron, enraged fellow leaders by opposing a long extension, with only three states, including Belgium, showing any support. The majority, 17 member states, favoured a long extension until the end of December or March next year. |
| Macron said the extension should be short enough to avoid any blocking of the EU renaissance project. | Macron said the extension should be short enough to avoid any blocking of the EU renaissance project. |
| And how was the summit for May? | And how was the summit for May? |
| Positive in the scheme of things. She even had a laugh with Merkel over a montage someone had created on Twitter of the two leaders preparing for a “Brexit-Krimi-nacht” or thriller night. | Positive in the scheme of things. She even had a laugh with Merkel over a montage someone had created on Twitter of the two leaders preparing for a “Brexit-Krimi-nacht” or thriller night. |
| #May und #Merkel zeitgleich in London und Berlin, bevor sie wieder gemeinsam in Brüssel eine Brexit-Krimi-Nacht durchmachen. @phoenix_de pic.twitter.com/aezOzrSKOo | #May und #Merkel zeitgleich in London und Berlin, bevor sie wieder gemeinsam in Brüssel eine Brexit-Krimi-Nacht durchmachen. @phoenix_de pic.twitter.com/aezOzrSKOo |
| May emerged at 3am to tell reporters she would carry on the fight to get her deal over the line. A diplomatic dash the previous day to Berlin had already convinced Merkel an extension was the right thing for the EU to grant, even though May appeared as far away as ever from ratifying the withdrawal agreement. | May emerged at 3am to tell reporters she would carry on the fight to get her deal over the line. A diplomatic dash the previous day to Berlin had already convinced Merkel an extension was the right thing for the EU to grant, even though May appeared as far away as ever from ratifying the withdrawal agreement. |
| What about the talks with Labour? | What about the talks with Labour? |
| These are still on the table, but the pressure is now off Labour to sign up to anything anytime soon, giving dangerous breathing space to May’s opponents. | These are still on the table, but the pressure is now off Labour to sign up to anything anytime soon, giving dangerous breathing space to May’s opponents. |
| And the Brexiters? | And the Brexiters? |
| Expect fire and brimstone. Iain Duncan Smith has already called on May to stand down before the October Tory party conference to avoid further humiliation while the lifelong Brexiter Bill Cash has warned of a legal challenge to any further extension to article 50. | Expect fire and brimstone. Iain Duncan Smith has already called on May to stand down before the October Tory party conference to avoid further humiliation while the lifelong Brexiter Bill Cash has warned of a legal challenge to any further extension to article 50. |
| On Thursday, the former Brexit secretary David Davis told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme it would “be very difficult for her” to be leader at the next Tory party conference in October. “If she does go, there will be a new leader and there will be a reset,” he said. | On Thursday, the former Brexit secretary David Davis told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme it would “be very difficult for her” to be leader at the next Tory party conference in October. “If she does go, there will be a new leader and there will be a reset,” he said. |
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