
After hours of deliberation, the EU has agreed to extend the UK’s leaving date until 31 October 2019, but there is the option to leave earlier if a deal can be reached before this new deadline. Anna Tobin reports
The new cut off date was announced in the early hours of this morning. Prime Minister Theresa May said: “I have just met with Donald Tusk, the President of the European Council, where I agreed an extension to the Brexit process to the end of October at the latest. I continue to believe we need to leave the EU, with a deal, as soon as possible.
“And vitally, the EU have agreed that the extension can be terminated when the Withdrawal Agreement has been ratified — which was my key request of my fellow leaders. For example, this means that, if we are able to pass a deal in the first three weeks of May, we will not have to take part in European Elections and will officially leave the EU on Saturday, 1st June.”