The EU moves to delay Brexit until next year after Boris Johnson abandons bid to force his deal through Parliament

Adam Bienkov

October 22, 2019 8:43 PM

Brexit is set to be delayed until next year after the European Council President recommended European leaders accept Britain's request to extend the Brexit deadline.

Donald Tusk

Donald Tusk said a delay was necessary to avoid a no-deal Brexit.
It comes after Boris Johnson abandoned his bid to force through Brexit legislation in time for the October 31 deadline.
MPs had earlier approved Johnson's Brexit deal in-principle.

The President of the European Council has recommended that EU leaders accept Britain's request to delay Brexit, after prime minister Boris Johnson shelved the legislation required to ratify his deal with the EU.

Donald Tusk tweeted on Tuesday that a delay to was required to prevent the UK leaving the EU without a deal on the current Brexit deadline of October 31.

"Following PM Boris Johnson's decision to pause the process of ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement, and in order to avoid a no-deal Brexit I will recommend the EU27 accept the UK request for an extension," he tweeted.

Tusk's response came after MPs on Tuesday gave their in-principle approval for the deal, but rejected Johnson's timetable to ratify the deal by the end of October.

Following the vote Johnson said he would "pause" the legislation while he awaited the EU's response to his request for a delay.

Any extension will need to be unanimously accepted by EU leaders.

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