Why is there a Brexit delay and what happens next?

THERE has already been on delay to Brexit and another one is on the cards with Theresa May asking the European Council to extend article 50 until June 30.

Here’s what we know about the delay, and what’s likely to happen next.

Theresa May has failed to get her meaningful vote through the Commons for three times in a row

Uk Parliament

Why is there a Brexit delay?

To put it simply, MPs have been repeatedly unable to agree on the terms on how Britain should leave the EU.

Before the original date of March 29, MPs voted for an extension to Article 50, after rejecting Theresa May’s proposals twice.

The PM lost a third vote on her deal on March 29, the day Britain was set to leave the EU.

EU officials agreed to an extension which runs until April 12.

But on April 3, MPs voted to force the PM to seek another extension, fearing a no deal Brexit may be on the cards.

What happens now?

Mrs May is currently in talks with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in a bid to agree on a deal.

The talks will end in eight days – on Wednesday, May 8.

No10 is planning to bring the axe down on cross-party negotiations if they don’t bear fruit by the middle of next week.

A No10 source said: “This time next week we’ll need a clear idea of where these talks are going and I think there is an understanding it can’t go on for much longer.

“There is an understanding that we’ve got to get on with it and talks will have to come to a conclusion one way or another.”

If the two sides manage to reach a compromise agreement, the Commons will vote on it as soon as next week.

If a deal isn’t in place by the end of next week, Britain will have to take part in the EU elections.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said there had been no change in the government’s “red lines”.

May had also formally requested an extension to June 30 from the European Council, headed by Donald Tusk.

This will give the other 27 leaders sufficient time to consider her plans before they gather.

Brexit could be pushed back a further time, until June 30 but Tusk has indicated he would prefer a longer time period, possibly a year.

Members of the 1922 Committee, representing Conservative backbenchers, warned the Prime Minister that agreeing a customs union with the EU in Brexit talks would be “unacceptable”.

Mrs May’s recent losses have ramped up the chances of a snap election dragging Brits back to the polls for the third time in four years.

She hinted at this, saying “I fear we are reaching the limits of this process” after the numbers were called out.

May met with the President of the European Council today to request another Brexit extension

Reuters

Theresa May was off meeting the German Chancellor in Berlin

Getty Images - Getty

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What are the key dates?

2019

29 March – Brexit Day

• Britain had been due to leave the European Union on March 29, 2019.
• However, after UK MPs rejected the withdrawal deal Mrs May had agreed with Brussels – EU leaders eventually agreed to a six-month extension to the exit process until October 31, 2019.
• The UK can leave the EU before this date if a withdrawal agreement is ratified between Britain and Brussels before then.

9-26 May

• The first EU Summit following Britain’s failure to leave on March 29 will start on May 9 in Sibiu, Romania.
• Elections for the European Parliament in 27 EU countries are schedule for May 23-26.

31 October

• Under the new extension to exit process, Britain should leave the EU on or before October 31.