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Prime Minister Theresa May writes to the EU to formally request the postponement of Brexit.
A ministerial source told the BBC that the longest delay could go up to two years, according to reports of a succession of Cabinet members, but the 10th meeting said that "we are not going to be able to do anything." no decision had been taken.
EU negotiator on Brexit, Michel Barnier, said the EU would not grant delay without a "concrete plan" from the UK on what they would do .
Under current legislation, the UK will leave the EU with or without agreement in 10 days.
MEPs rejected the withdrawal agreement that Ms May negotiated with the EU for the second time last week by 149 votes. They also voted in favor of the decision to reject the abandonment of the EU without agreement and the extension of the Brexit process.
The Prime Minister hoped to have another try to get MPs to support the deal this week – but President John Bercow actually torpedoed him with Monday's surprise intervention.
She still hopes to be able to present it to MEPs for a third time, but says that even if that happens and they vote in her favor, the UK will need a short extension so that Parliament can adopt the necessary law.
A firm source told the BBC that she was therefore planning to ask the EU to kindly postpone the departure of the UK to June 30, but with the option of a longer time.
Ms May warned Brexiteer's Conservatives that a longer extension would be needed if her agreement was not adopted by Parliament.
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A ministerial source said Laura Kuenssberg of the BBC there was "no agreement" around the cabinet table when a delay was being discussed.
Another firm source said that they were frustrated by the fact that the prime minister had not made it clear which late option she would advocate.
House Leader Andrea Leadsom is reported to have criticized her colleagues, saying that they are now a "cabinet of the rest" and not a "cabinet of Brexit".
Chancellor Philip Hammond said all ministers wanted "the shortest possible delay", but cabinet members "have different approaches to how we should proceed."
Any delay will have to be approved by the 27 EU Member States. May will travel to Brussels on Thursday to discuss options with other leaders.
What happens next?
- Prime Minister writes to EU to call for postponement of Brexit
- May will travel to Brussels on Thursday at the EU summit to discuss late options
- The 27 EU members must accept any proposed extension
- If an extension is accepted, Ms. May will probably try to get her agreement – which was heavily defeated – by Parliament
- MPs and peers will also have a vote on any delay
- Talks continue with the DUP and Tory Brexiteers who voted against the deal.
- The government could seek to hold a third "meaningful vote" on the withdrawal agreement next week
- But the speaker said that he would not let MPs vote again if the question was exactly the same.
- The UK leaves the EU on March 29 with or without agreement, unless a delay is agreed
On Monday, the President declared that he would not allow, in the coming days, a third "meaningful vote" on the same "motion" as that rejected by the deputies last week.
Mr. Bercow refused to discuss the reasons for his decision when he was questioned by the BBC, while he was going to Parliament the next day.
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Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay has suggested that a third vote on the Brexit agreement could take place next week, after Ms. May has asked for a deadline.
On Mr. Bercow's decision, he stated that it was important to "respect the arbitrator" and to abide by his decisions – but, he added, the President himself had stated in the past that if Parliament were guided by a precedent, "nothing will ever change". .
Barclay suggested that MPs "find a way" to get another vote if the government manages to convince enough, including the 10 Democratic trade unionists, to change their minds and support the government. ;agreement.
What does the EU say?
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AFP
At a press conference in Brussels, Mr Barnier said that it was incumbent on the 27 European leaders to decide to grant a deadline, on the basis of "the best interests" of l & # 39; Union.
But for a longer period "there must be a new event" or a "new political process" – so that "we have not returned to the same situation as today."
"Expanding uncertainty without a clear plan would increase the economic cost of our business, but would also entail a political cost for the EU," Barnier said.
"It is up to the British government and parliament to decide very quickly what the UK wants to do next."
Mr Barnier also warned that British MPs voting against "no agreement" would not prevent this from happening, saying "everyone should now finalize all preparations for a scenario". lack of agreement ".
BBC Europe's editor-in-chief Katya Adler said the EU has "little trust" in the prime minister, with some leaders wishing to see evidence in parliament that MEPs would favor a longer deadline before the EU has not signed it.
She added that it was "irritating" to find that those in Westminster appeared to be "turned in on themselves" and did not take into account the cost of a delay for the EU.
She added that the EU 's final decision on a delay could not be made this week, with the discussion of an emergency summit on March 28.
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Angela Merkel: I will fight until the last hour of the deadline
Earlier, German Chancellor Angela Merkel had declared that she would fight until the last moment to achieve "an orderly Brexit", claiming that the interests of Germany, Britain and the United States EU were at stake.
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar and European Council President Donald Tusk issued a joint statement at the end of their meeting in Dublin.
"They agreed that we must now see what proposals emerged from London ahead of the Brussels European Council meeting on Thursday," he said.
What about opposition parties?
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Labor leader had talks with other opposition parties
Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labor Party, said the president's intervention showed that Bercow "was ensuring that Parliament was taken seriously."
He said he spoke to Conservative and Labor MPs about the prospect of a future relationship with the European Union in the style of Norway-Plus – a relationship closer than would the agreement Ms. May – calling him an "interesting idea" that had not had his "full support".
Asked about another referendum, he said: "The question must be submitted to the people after the Parliament has taken some decision".
He said that a public vote was to be on a range of options, saying, "This can not just be on Theresa May's contract or staying – there must be a choice for people" .
Mr Corbyn also had "constructive" talks with leaders of the SNP, the Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party, about the potential for unity around a closer future relationship with the EU. EU, said a spokesman for the Labor Party.
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But Liz Saville Roberts, Westminster leader of Plaid Cymru, suggested that the leader of the Labor Party had not really engaged during the meeting by giving the people the last word on Brexit.
"We were there to talk about a popular vote and the only thing I felt he was comfortable talking about was the Brexit version of Labor," she said. .
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