Britain to ask EU for extension, MPs pass law to block no-deal Brexit

merkel_macron French President Emmanuel Macron. German Chancellor Angela Merkel | AFP

The date agreed by EU and Britain for the latter's withdrawal from the European Union is drawing to a close. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Macron will meet with British PM Theresa May to talk about another probable extension. British MPs in the meantime passed a new law preventing a no-deal Brexit.

“This is a huge dog's dinner,” Andrea Leadsom, who represents the government in parliament, told MPs. “I fundamentally object to it on the grounds that it is totally unconventional,” she said. The law was passed on the initiative of MPs, subverting the normal order in which parliament debates and passes government-proposed legislation.

EU leaders are welcoming contact from Mrs. May ahead of the Brexit summit and they do hope that she has a plan B.

If the EU were to grant another extension, Britain will need to prepare itself to take part in EU elections and the extension could go beyond May 23. This extension however, will be the last one the EU offers to Britain.

UK Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright said that no deal "remains a possibility" despite Parliament's numerous attempts in trying to prevent it.

He added that cross-party talk with Jeremy Corbyn will continue to take place despite May's absence and that the talks needed to finish and reach "a sensible conclusion about the best way to leave the EU with a deal."

The law does not prevent a no-deal Brexit if it takes place on Friday, in case Britain and EU fail to agree on an extension. But it does require the government to put forward a motion in parliament on Tuesday setting out the delay that it will request at an EU summit on Wednesday.

MPs will be allowed to vote on this and make their own suggestions as to the length of the delay.

Britain could also choose to stop the entire Brexit process by revoking Article 50, the formal procedure for member states that want to leave.