Brexit: EU plans to grant UK three-month extension, reports claim

Ambassadors set to approve delay with option to leave earlier if MPs approve deal

The EU is planning to give the UK a Brexit extension until 31 January, with an option to leave earlier if a deal is passed by parliament, according to reports.

Ambassadors for the remaining 27 countries in the bloc hope to approve the three-month delay when they meet in Brussels at 9am GMT on Monday morning, it is claimed.

A previous meeting of diplomats on Friday had failed to reach unanimous agreement after objections were raised by France.

However a draft agreement, leaked to The Guardian, suggested that intense lobbying by European Council president Donald Tusk had borne fruit.

The plan envisages that the UK could leave the EU on 1 December or 1 January if MPs ratify Boris Johnson‘s deal in November or December respectively. There was no mention of 15 November as a potential departure date, as raised by France.

It also states that there will be no further renegotiation of the withdrawal agreement during the extension.

And if Britain remains in the EU after 31 October it will have to name a candidate for the new European Commission due to take over on 1 December.

Boris Johnson has continued to insist that it is still possible for the UK to leave by Halloween, if the EU reject a further extension.

However the prime minister is now said to be preparing to force a snap general election before Christmas.

If his call for a 12 December election is voted down by MPs on Monday, Downing Street has indicated it is considering introducing a bill to trigger a poll on 9 December.

The idea was proposed by the Liberal Democrats and the SNP, who joined forces to write a letter to Mr Tusk asking for a three-month extension.

It led to accusations that Jo Swinson’s party had “given up” on securing a Final Say referendum on Brexit.