"Many Photos" - Tusk tells EU to give UK 12-month Brexit delay

Brexiteers have pledged to 'go nuclear' after Theresa May today wrote to the EU asking for permission to delay Brexit until June 30.

But Donald Tusk has already said that a 12-month 'flextension' to March 31 2020 is 'the only reasonable way out' of the crisis and will urge leaders of the EU's 27 member states to back him later today.    

This morning the Prime Minister sent a letter to Mr Tusk to formally request an extension to Article 50 that will delay the UK's departure beyond April 12 to June 30 - but wants a 'termination clause'.

This would allow the UK to leave on May 22 - the day before European elections - if a deal can be pushed through the UK Parliament. 

Begging the EU for another extension the PM said: 'This impasse cannot be allowed to continue. In the UK it is creating uncertainty and doing damage to faith in politics, while the European Union has a legitimate desire to move on to decisions about its own future'.

But Mrs May's letter admits that if she fails Britain would go to the polls between May 23 and May 26, costing the taxpayer up to £108million to put on the elections. British MEPs would then be paid a £85,000-a-year salary to sit in Brussels from July as the UK tries to leave. 

EU sources have said they will reject Mrs May's June 30 Brexit date and tell her that a year-long deal is the only option. With No Deal now off the table she would be forced to accept it. 

Brexiteer Owen Paterson tweeted that Tories should 'go nuclear' and push again for No Deal while Tory ERG chairman Jacob Rees-Mogg said today: 'If a long extension leaves us stuck in the EU we should be as difficult as possible. We could veto any increase in the budget, obstruct the putative EU army and block Mr Macron’s integrationist schemes.

Brexiteer Marcus Fysh told MailOnline 'we don't need more time, we need the right approach' and suggested Tory grassroots members might refuse to help elect Conservative candidates if the UK took part in the European elections.

He said: 'They [the EU] don't want an unhelpful and unhappy group in the European Parliament and local Conservative parties will not be working to get Conservatives elected under the circumstances. 

And ERG deputy chairman Steve Baker added: ‘The PM could get us out with a deal if only she would secure changes to the backstop in line with the Brady amendment which she whipped for.

‘If only the Government would abandon pursuit of a customs union in all but name, this crisis would end.’

Theresa May's cabinet is considering giving MPs a vote on holding a second referendum as the price of a deal with Jeremy Corbyn, it emerged today.

But ministers are considering quitting if Britain does not leave by May and backbench Brexiteers said today: 'The little bit of credibility she has left would be completely shattered' if she offered a new public poll. 

Talks between Mrs May and Mr Corbyn continue today with a customs union proposal looking the most likely compromise. 

But Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson said today it's 'highly unlikely' that the party would support a cross-party deal with the Prime Minister if a second referendum was not included.    

Theresa May will write to EU Council President Donald Tusk to request an extension to Article 50 that will delay the UK's departure beyond April 12 - but Mr Tusk will insist in it being a year-long delay into 2020

Theresa May has written this letter to the EU for permission to delay Brexit again and also admitted the UK could take part in European elections

Mrs May has asked for an Article 50 extension until June 30 - but Brussels are only going to offer a longer delay of a year

Donald Tusk's suggestion of a year's 'flextension' to Brexit still has to be approved by EU leaders like France's Emmanuel Macron (pictured today in Paris), who have taken a far harder line with Britain in negotiations

Theresa May begs EU to delay Brexit to June 30 

Theresa May has written to European Council president Donald Tusk requesting an extension to Article 50 until June 30.

The Prime Minister said she will seek to ratify her Withdrawal Agreement before the European Parliament elections on May 23, but will make 'responsible preparations' to take part if that does not prove possible.

Britain is due to leave the European Union at the end of next week, but Mrs May is now seeking to delay Brexit for a second time after her deal was rejected for a third time last week.

In her letter, she wrote: 'I am writing therefore to inform the European Council that the United Kingdom is seeking a further extension to the period provided under Article 50(3) of the Treaty on European Union, including as applied by Article 106a of the Euratom Treaty.

'The United Kingdom proposes that this period should end on 30 June 2019. If the parties are able to ratify before this date, the Government proposes that the period should be terminated early.

'The Government will want to agree a timetable for ratification that allows the United Kingdom to withdraw from the European Union before 23 May 2019 and therefore cancel the European Parliament elections, but will continue to make responsible preparations to hold the elections should this not prove possible.'

Mrs May said if ongoing talks with Labour do not lead to a 'single unified approach soon' then the Government would instead look to establish a 'consensus' on options on a future relationship that could be put to the Commons.

She wrote: 'The Government stands ready to abide by the decision of the House, if the Opposition will commit to doing the same.' 

Attorney General Geoffrey Cox last night warned that Britain would be stuck in the EU for at least another year unless the Government cuts a soft Brexit deal with the Labour leader. He said it was now the only way in which Britain was likely to leave the EU next month.

Several Brexiteer ministers are pushing Mrs May to rule out a long delay, with a handful even urging her to take Britain out of the EU without a deal next Friday if Parliament continues to refuse to pass her plan.

Mr Cox told the BBC that unless a deal can be cut with Labour the delay would be a 'long one... longer than just a few weeks or months'. 

Last night the delay had not been signed off by the Cabinet, which is deeply split over how long to ask for. The move came amid signs that ministers are closing in on a deal with Labour that is likely to involve some form of customs union and guarantees on workers' rights and environmental standards.

After two days of intensive talks, officials were last night working on a formal letter to Labour setting out the broad scope of a possible deal.

Sources played down reports that the package would include a second referendum although they pointed out there would be nothing to stop Parliament attempting to attach one to the deal. But both sides described talks, which will continue today, as constructive.

One Tory source said: 'There has been a bit of capitulation on both sides. Everyone is looking to have something imposed on them – get a deal done and blame the other side for the bits they don't like. It could all come crashing down, but at the moment it's in play.' 

Mrs May launched formal talks with Labour on Wednesday after MPs rejected her deal three times. 

The decision has prompted a furious Tory backlash, with Eurosceptic MPs threatening to go 'on strike' and up to 15 ministers saying they will quit if the deal includes a customs union.

But in an interview with the BBC's Political Thinking podcast, Mr Cox said the Government had no choice but to agree a compromise if Britain was still to leave the EU. 

He warned that with Parliament now legislating to force the Government to seek a delay to avoid a No Deal Brexit next week, Mrs May 'would have little choice but to accept the extension that she's offered'. 

Asked if Mr Corbyn could become the midwife of Brexit, he replied: 'So be it. What matters is this is born.' 

After two days of intensive talks, officials were last night working on a formal letter to Labour setting out the broad scope of a possible deal

The Cabinet is split over how long an extension to ask the EU for. At a seven-hour Cabinet showdown on Tuesday, up to 14 ministers voiced doubts about a long extension that would delay Brexit beyond the European Parliament elections on May 23.

Fury as disgraced ex-Labour MP Fiona Onasanya helps Remainer rebels to victory by ONE VOTE on law to stop No Deal Brexit 

The Commons voted to rule out a No Deal Brexit thanks to the support of disgraced MP Fiona Onasanya.

The politician is wearing an electronic tag after being sentenced to three months' jail in January for perverting the course of justice after repeatedly lying to police about a speeding offence.

On Wednesday night MPs voted by a majority of only one to support a Bill to further delay the date of Brexit to avoid No Deal.

Former Labour MP Miss Onasanya, 35, who is facing the prospect of being expelled by her constituents in Peterborough, was one of those to vote in favour of the legislation.

Had she not turned up in the Commons, the vote would have been tied and the Speaker would have been expected to reject the Bill.

Tory MP Christopher Davies, who admitted submitting false expenses last month and is awaiting sentence, also went to the Commons for Wednesday's vote. He opposed the measure.

Hours earlier Miss Onasanya had appeared at an employment tribunal, where she is accused of discriminating against a disabled employee who was told to use the male toilet because she couldn't climb the stairs.

Last month the MP was released early from prison in Surrey having served only 28 days behind bars and agreed to a curfew and an electronic tag.

The solicitor faces a by-election if at least 10 per cent of registered voters in her constituency – about 7,000 people – sign the petition by May 1. 

MPs backed the Bill to delay the date of Brexit, tabled by Labour's Yvette Cooper, during the late-night sitting on Wednesday by 313 votes to 312.

Some 14 Tory MPs backed the Bill. They were all Remainers, including Ken Clarke and Dominic Grieve. Six Tories abstained. Of the 20 rebels, some 17 were former ministers.

The legislation requires Theresa May to table a motion seeking MPs' approval for an extension to Article 50 – the formal process for leaving the EU – beyond April 12 to a date of her choosing. It is part of a Parliamentary bid to prevent a No Deal departure from the EU.

In an unusual step, Speaker John Bercow allowed the Bill to be fast-tracked through the Commons in a single day. 

Just ten Cabinet ministers backed a long delay to give time to negotiate a new deal. Downing Street yesterday confirmed that preparations for the elections are likely to go ahead, but insisted the £100million exercise could be called off as late as the day before if the Government is able to get a Brexit deal through Parliament.

Members of the 'Pizza Club' of pro-Brexit Tory MPs met on Wednesday night in the office of Commons leader Andrea Leadsom. 

In attendance were several Cabinet ministers including Penny Mordaunt, Jeremy Hunt and Chris Grayling. 

One minister told the Daily Mail: 'Ministers were saying, 'It is miserable, but we need an alternative. We fear Brexit isn't going to happen in the next 18 months'.'

Senior ministers clashed yesterday over whether the Government should contemplate agreeing a second referendum, which Mr Corbyn is under pressure from Labour activists to demand.

Chancellor Philip Hammond described the idea as a 'perfectly credible option'. But Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: 'That's certainly not how I would describe it.' Mr Corbyn is under intense pressure from MPs and activists to demand a referendum as the price of any deal. 

But the Labour leader has indicated he believes a second vote is only needed to 'stop a damaging Tory Brexit or a No Deal'.

Spartan chief Steve Baker told MailOnline: 'The Chancellor has come up with about the stupidest suggestion I could imagine. Look at the rage and despair created by asking Parliament to choose between Brexit in name only or no Brexit, and then imagine the public reaction. Is he trying to destroy all faith in democracy?'. 

There were reportedly talks on creating a 'devolution lock' that would give Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast a veto on any future changes to the UK-EU relationship, according to BuzzFeed News.

Downing Street denied this as 'categorically untrue'.  

Yesterday 25 Labour MPs, mainly from Leave-supporting areas, urged Mr Corbyn to press ahead without another referendum.

The letter warned that a second referendum would be 'exploited by the far-Right, damage the trust of many core Labour voters and reduce our chances of winning a General Election'.

It comes after Mr Corbyn's Shadow Foreign Secretary wrote to all Labour MPs demanding a ballot on whatever deal emerges. 

Miss Thornberry wrote: 'Any deal agreed by Parliament must be subject to a confirmatory public vote, and yes, the other option on the ballot must be Remain.'

Attorney General defends inviting Jeremy Corbyn into Brexit talks – saying 'we must use any lawful means' to ensure UK leaves the EU 

Attorney General Geoffrey Cox has defended inviting Jeremy Corbyn to Brexit talks, saying 'we must use any lawful means' to ensure the UK leaves the EU. 

Mr Cox said that if Government discussions with Labour fail to deliver an agreement the UK faced a long extension to Article 50.

The Attorney General suggested that in such circumstances Prime Minister Theresa May would have little choice but to accept what the EU offered her.

Welcoming the cross-party talks, Mr Cox told BBC Radio 4's Political Thinking with Nick Robinson podcast: 'I say we must use any means to secure the ends, any lawful means.

'We are assisting at the birth of something new. Births are not always easy and we must take the necessary steps to achieve our departure.'

Attorney General Geoffrey Cox, pictured yesterday, has defended inviting Jeremy Corbyn to Brexit talks, saying 'we must use any lawful means' to ensure the UK leaves the EU

Asked if that meant Mr Corbyn would be the midwife, the Attorney General replied: 'So be it. What matters is this is born.'

What happens next with Brexit? 

FRIDAY: DECISION TIME

Time is running desperately short for May to decide an alternative before the EU summit on 10 April. The government must brief EU governments on what to expect so preparations for the summit can be made.

WEDNESDAY APRIL 10: EU SUMMIT

Another summit with EU leaders – where May will ask for a new delay beyond April 12. 

May's new plan is to strike a cross-party consensus in London and persuade EU leaders it means the deal can be delivered in time for Brexit on May 22.

She may have to accept a longer extension that means holding EU elections, as Brussels has made clear this is a red line - and will take a decision on delay without Britain and it must be unanimous. 

EU officials including Michel Barnier have warned that the risk of an accidental No Deal is increasing if May arrives with no plan.

FRIDAY APRIL 12: BREXIT DAY

Britain is due to leave the EU without a deal on this date if no delay is agreed. 

The Attorney General said failure to reach agreement with Labour would have repercussions.

Mr Cox said: 'The problem, then, would be that we would be in an extension. It's likely to be a long one, by which I mean longer than just a few weeks or months.'

He added: 'We will no doubt be offered an extension with a date on it and the Prime Minister will be required to accept or reject it.'

Mr Cox said the backbench Bill brought forward by Labour's Yvette Cooper and others, which forces the Government to seek an extension if no deal has been agreed by April 12, would leave the PM with little room to manoeuvre.

Referring to the Bill's impact on a no deal option, the Attorney General said: 'It rules it out... the Prime Minister would have little choice but to accept the extension that she's offered.'

Mr Cox was cool on the prospect of another Brexit referendum.

He said: 'I think a good deal of persuasion might be needed to satisfy the Government that a second referendum would be appropriate. But of course we will consider any suggestion that's made.'

The Attorney General said Mr Corbyn was not fit to be PM.

He said: 'The opposition is simply not fit to govern. The leader of the opposition is simply not fit to be Prime Minister of this country.

'It is vital that the Conservative Party sustains itself in office and sustains its unity.' 

Welcoming the cross-party talks, Mr Cox said: 'I say we must use any means to secure the ends, any lawful means.' Pictured: Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer after today's talks

JACK DOYLE: So what DOES Labour want from Theresa in return for their backing on Brexit? 

Customs Union

Until now, Theresa May has said the UK will leave the European Union's customs union.

The customs union eliminates duties – or tariffs – between member states, while EU countries impose a common external tariff on imports from non-members.

But the customs union also allows the EU to strike trade deals on behalf of all its members.

The Prime Minister made leaving the customs union a 'red line' in her negotiations due to her desire to strike independent trade deals with other countries – such as the USA.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, pictured with his shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer, left and shadow business secretary, Rebecca Long-Bailey, right, discussed strategy ahead of the his meeting with the PM yesterday 

eremy Corbyn wants a permanent customs union. He says it will help protect existing trade between the UK and EU, in particular that of manufactured goods which relies on complex supply chains – links which can break down if goods are delayed at the border

Remaining in the union would stop this because the UK would be barred from reducing its tariffs on imported goods from other countries.

They could only strike deals in the services sector – however this does make up a vast part of the modern UK economy.

Jeremy Corbyn wants a permanent customs union. He says it will help protect existing trade between the UK and EU, in particular that of manufactured goods which relies on complex supply chains – links which can break down if goods are delayed at the border.

Labour also says that remaining in the customs union will help keep trade flowing freely between Northern Ireland and the Republic without the need for the so-called 'backstop'.

Mr Corbyn claims his proposal does include the UK having a say on future trade deals negotiated by the EU and affecting the UK. But this is something Brussels has apparently ruled out.

Despite all this, senior Tory ministers were out in force yesterday preparing the ground for a customs union compromise. Attorney General Geoffrey Cox argued that the customs union might be needed to get out – claiming the UK could leave at a later point and a customs union would not be a 'permanent straitjacket'.

Employment rights

Under Mrs May's deal, the UK agrees not to row back on existing EU rules on workers' rights – such as the Working Time Directive which limits working hours – after we leave.

But Mr Corbyn wants to go further and is demanding 'dynamic alignment' – meaning any future government would agree to accept any employment laws and trade union rules passed by the EU in future, regardless of Parliament's wishes. So what if the EU agreed to a four-day working week, or passed other regulations which would erode competitiveness?

Mrs May claims to be a champion of workers' rights, so this is an area she could argue is consistent with her approach, even if it limits the UK's ability to set its own course in future because we are tied to Brussels diktats.

Free movement

In theory, the parties are not far apart on free movement – one of the central issues of the referendum campaign.

Vast numbers of Labour voters backed Leave because they oppose uncontrolled immigration. This was reflected in Labour's manifesto which said free movement will end after we leave.

For Mrs May, ending free movement is her reddest of red lines. But Labour policy on what migration policy should replace free movement is significantly more liberal than Tory policy. In particular, the Opposition is against the proposed £30,000 minimum earnings requirement for post-Brexit working visas.

Could Mr Corbyn demand this is scrapped and a lower earnings threshold imposed?

For Mrs May, ending free movement is her reddest of red lines. But Labour policy on what migration policy should replace free movement is significantly more liberal than Tory policy

Second referendum

Publicly, Downing Street officials have not ruled out agreeing to a second referendum.

Yet if anything is a deal breaker, it is a demand for another Brexit vote. The whole point of the talks with Mr Corbyn – and the reward for Mrs May enduring civil war in the Tory Party – is that Brexit goes through in short order with Labour backing.

But a second referendum, with Remain on the ballot paper, would require a Brexit delay of at least a year and the UK taking part in MEP elections next month – both currently unacceptable to Mrs May.

On Mr Corbyn's side, the second referendum is the issue which divides his Shadow Cabinet, MPs, activists and voters like no other. Agree to a deal without one and the Remainers in his party will be livid.

If he wants to deliberately crash the talks, this is what Mr Corbyn demand

What happens now MPs have passed laws against No Deal Brexit... and have they accidentally made it more likely?

How Theresa May has filled a number of vacancies in her cabinet after resignations over Brexit 

Theresa May has filled a number of vacancies in her Government caused by the recent rash of resignations over Brexit, including appointing a minister for disabled people.

Justin Tomlinson has been promoted within the Department for Work and Pensions to become minister of state for disabled people, filling a gap left by Sarah Newton's resignation on March 13.

His place as junior DWP minister is taken by Will Quince.

Conservative deputy chairman James Cleverly becomes parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Exiting the European Union, replacing Chris Heaton-Harris, who resigned on Wednesday.

Mrs May's parliamentary private secretary Seema Kennedy takes the same rank at the Department of Health, replacing Steve Brine, who resigned on March 25.

And Andrew Stephenson becomes parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, filling the gap left by Richard Harrington on March 25.

Kevin Foster will be a junior minister at the Wales Office and assistant government whip, replacing Nigel Adams, who quit on Wednesday. He will also be an unpaid parliamentary secretary at the Cabinet Office while Chloe Smith is on maternity leave. 

Rebel MPs who seized control of the Commons agenda successfully rammed through laws designed to avoid No Deal last night - but were accused by the Government of making it more likely. 

After passing through the commons by just one vote on Wednesday night, the European Union (Withdrawal) (No.5) Bill was sent over to the House of Lords on Thursday.

Chief Whip Lord Taylor of Holbeach announced a deal had been reached with Labour after seven hours of procedural wrangling on whether it should be pushed through in just one sitting.

Under the agreement, the Bill completed the second reading stage in the Lords on Thursday night. 

But its detailed committee and report stages, and third reading, will be taken on Monday, sparing weary peers the prospect of votes through the night.

Most expect the plans will be made law in the end despite a warning by Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay they raise the risk of an accidental No Deal.

Mr Barclay said the way Ms Cooper's Bill is drafted undermines Theresa May's ability to negotiate a new delay to Brexit at an emergency summit next week.

Under the rebel law the Commons will set out demands for the length of the new Brexit. 

The Government says if the EU Council offers a different delay - whether in length or with conditions - the PM will not be able to agree it without a further vote in Parliament.

If Parliament makes further demands instead of rubber stamping whatever comes from Brussels, there would need to be further talks among EU leader - effectively impossible when the second vote would be on April 11 and exit due the following day.  

Fury at Gibraltar's 'colony' ruling by the European Parliament  

The European Parliament provoked anger yesterday by voting to recognise Gibraltar as 'a colony' of Britain.

The centuries-old dispute over the Rock, a contentious issue throughout Brexit talks, flared up again as Spain was accused of 'bullying' to pass the legislation.

Shortly after the vote the EU Commission stoked tensions further by saying it found the language 'acceptable'. Spain's European affairs minister also hailed the vote's 'very political and symbolic nature'.

But Downing Street said the language was 'completely inappropriate'. A spokesman said: 'Gibraltar is a full part of the UK family. This will not change due to our exit from the EU.'

Gibraltar has been British since 1713. The vote was final and means the word 'colony' will now enter into European law. Gibraltar's chief minister Fabian Picardo called the word 'provocative and pejorative' and accused Madrid of trying to 'bully' the people of the British Overseas Territory.

In a statement Gibraltar's government said: 'Extreme pressure exerted by Spain and the bullying tactics of Spanish MEPs, on purely nationalistic grounds, has led to the acceptance of the 'colony' language in relation to Gibraltar.'

MEPs were voting to accept Brussels proposals to allow British nationals visa-free travel throughout the EU after Brexit and vice-versa – even in the event of No Deal. A reference to Gibraltar being a 'colony of the British Crown' was inserted as a footnote at Spain's behest.

Labour MEP Claude Moraes, chairman of the European Parliament's justice committee, suggested Britain could take legal action, calling Spain's move 'a glaring legal deceit'. 

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News Photo Tusk tells EU to give UK 12-month Brexit delay
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