BUYING BREXIT TIME: British Prime Minister Theresa May asks for June 30 extension

REQUEST: May has called for Brexit to be delayed until June. Photo credit: Shutterstock

BRITAIN’S Prime Minister has asked the EU to delay Brexit until Sunday, June 30 in a bid to buy more time to get her deal passed.

Theresa May’s request comes as European Council President Donald Tusk offered a year-long delay to Britain’s withdrawal.

May said in a letter to Tusk she was more open to a shorter extension which would also allow Britain to leave earlier if the necessary legislation is passed in time.

The prime minister said Britain’s Brexit impasse could not be allowed to continue.

“In Britain it is creating uncertainty and doing damage to faith in politics, while the EU has a legitimate desire to move on to decisions about its own future,” May said.

“It is frustrating that we have not yet brought this process to a successful and orderly conclusion,” the prime minister added.

May said she was still keen for Britain to avoid having to take part in European elections. But she added the government would be legally obliged to hold them if Britain did not leave before Monday, May 22.

May’s letter comes as talks between Conservative ministers and senior figures from the Labour opposition continued for a second day yesterday.

The prime minister said both sides agreed they needed to pass the withdrawal agreement but they had not found common group on how to go forward after Britain’s departure.

Conservative and Labour figures both weighed in on the developments earlier today (Friday).

Brexiteer Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg said a long extension would leave Britain stuck in the EU and said Britain should be as ‘difficult’ as possible if that was the case.

Labour deputy leader Tom Watson said it would be difficult not to hold a second referendum on the deal if and when it is passed.

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Joe Gerrard

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