Brexit will be delayed until the end of January next year unless Parliament can ratify Boris Johnson’s deal before Christmas.
European Council president Donald Tusk confirmed yesterday that the EU27 would accept the UK’s request for a Brexit “flextension” until January 31.
Mr Johnson was forced to ask and accept the extension under the terms of the Benn Act, which was designed to prevent a no-deal exit on October 31.
In a tweet, Mr Tusk said: “The EU27 has agreed that it will accept the UK’s request for a Brexit flextension until 31 January 2020.
“The decision is expected to be formalised through a written procedure.”
Confirmation of the delay means the prime minister has broken his vow to take the UK out of the EU “do or die” on Halloween.
An EU source said under the draft European Council decision, the extension would last “only as long as necessary to allow for the ratification of the withdrawal agreement and, in any event, no longer than January 31, 2020”.
The source added: “If the withdrawal agreement is ratified by both parties before this date, the withdrawal will take place on the first day of the month following the ratification.
“The United Kingdom will remain a member state until the new withdrawal date, with full rights and obligations, including the obligation to suggest a candidate for appointment as a member of the Commission.
“This extension excludes any re-opening of the Withdrawal Agreement.”
The text will be submitted to the UK for agreement, before a written procedure is launched to adopt the decision – with the process likely to be concluded on “Tuesday or Wednesday”, the source added.
