Brexit news - LIVE: EU leaders unanimously agree to give UK unconditional ‘flextension’ if it approves withdrawal agreement next week

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European Council President Donald Tusk tells media that EU leaders agree to delay the Brexit process

Theresa May’s request to extend triggering Article 50 until the end of June was rejected by the EU, which instead offered a shorter time frame.

Ms May has now accepted the offer of a delay until May 22 if her withdrawal deal is approved by Parliament.

If MPs reject it for a third time, the EU says Britain must propose a new plan by April 12.

The result of this would either be a much longer delay or crashing out of the EU without a deal.

Ms May said she will not support a long delay because it would mean Britain participating in elections for the European Parliament.

Here’s how events unfolded:

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Key Points

• Theresa May facing mounting backlash after blaming MPs for Brexit crisis
• ... as Downing Street claims 'no evidence' MPs put in dangers by PM's statement
• May arrives in Brussels for meetings with EU chiefs 
• ... and Jeremy Corbyn hold talks with negotiator Michel Barnier
• Jeremy Hunt says no PM in 'living memory' has been tested like May

[21 March 2019 09:26 · Ashley Cowburn]

Jeremy Corbyn is expected to arrive in Brussels around 11am today for talks with EU negotiators - ahead of a crucial summit of EU leaders, attended by Theresa May. It is expected the extension of Article 50 will be a key topic of discussion at the council meeting.

In a statement released ahead of his own meeting with EU officials on Thursday, the Labour leader said:

​“Theresa May's botched deal has been overwhelming rejected twice by parliament. It should not be brought back for a third time of asking. Her government is in chaos, and she is arrogantly trying to bully Parliament to vote for the same bad deal.

“After serious talks with senior MPs from across parliament, I believe it should be possible to agree a deal with the EU that secures a close economic relationship before the European parliament elections. I look forward to discussing this with European leaders today. 

“It's time for MPs to work together, find a consensus that can get through parliament, be negotiated with the EU in time and bring leave and remain voters together. We believe that consensus can be based on our alternative plan, which would provide protection for manufacturing and jobs, guarantee our rights and end the chaos and uncertainty that the government is inflicting on our country.”

[21 March 2019 09:56 · Ashley Cowburn]

[21 March 2019 10:12 · Ashley Cowburn]

[21 March 2019 10:42 · Ashley Cowburn]

[21 March 2019 10:47 · Ashley Cowburn]

Referring to the foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt's remarks on BBC Radio 4 this morning, the Labour MP and supporter of the pro-EU group Best for Britain Virendra Sharma, said: 

"These comments will go down like a bucket of sick. What the Foreign Secretary means is that no Prime Minister in living memory has failed on the same scale as Theresa May. 

"Yesterday's attack on Parliament was an act of desperation, where she tried to pass the buck to MPs. That's not leadership.

"There's now no doubt that the Prime Minister has led this country into crisis. MPs cannot continue playing her game. We need a sufficient extension to Article 50, and for this decision to be put back to the people through a final say."

[21 March 2019 10:55 · Ashley Cowburn]

[21 March 2019 11:11 · Ashley Cowburn]

Commons leader Andrea Leadsom tells MPs they will be not be sitting on Friday 29 March - the date Britain is currently set to exit the EU. It's fair to say some MPs found this amusing.

She did not provide a date for a third meaningful vote on Theresa May's Brexit deal, but told MPs the precise timing depends on the outcome of talks in Brussels.

Ms Leadsom said she would make a further business statement as appropriate to confirm details of a further vote, which the government intends to bring forward.

[21 March 2019 11:39 · Ashley Cowburn]

No 10 has defended Theresa May's televised address on Wednesday evening - saying it had been intended as a "message to the public" to explain why she was seeking a delay to Brexit.

"What the PM was doing was setting out to the public that while we are not going to be able to leave with a deal on time on March 29 she is not prepared to support an extension beyond June 30," the spokeswoman said.

"It is three years since the referendum and the public want us to bring this to a conclusion and that is what she was setting out yesterday."

The spokeswoman dismissed claims that the prime minister's remarks could put MPs at risk of attack by angry members of the public. "I flatly reject that," she said.

"There's no evidence to suggest that," it was added. “I set out clearly what the prime minister was doing yesterday, which was setting out the details of the extension and her own personal regret about that.”

The spokeswoman also revealed the prime minister is expected to hold one-on-one talks with French president Emmanuel Macron, and the European council president Donald Tusk - ahead of the EU Council summit in Brussels later today. 

[21 March 2019 12:02 · Ashley Cowburn]

This is from our Europe Correspondent Jon Stone on the Labour leader's movements in Brussels. He is expected to do a clip to cameras after his meetings with EU officials.

[21 March 2019 12:09 · Ashley Cowburn]

Speaking to reporters outside the EU council building in Brussels, the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn says there is a majority for his party's proposals, and that is what he is concentrating on. 

 Asked whether the EU trusts him or Theresa May more, he replies: "I have a constructive relationship with the EU - we didn't start the negotiations being critical of the EU."