‘Short’ Brexit delay possible as long as MPs vote for May’s deal, says Tusk

A “short” delay to Brexit will be possible provided Parliament votes for Theresa May’s deal, European Council president Donald Tusk has said.

Mr Tusk said he had spoken to the Prime Minister after receiving her formal request for an extension of the Article 50 withdrawal process to the end of June.

The PM made the request in a letter to Mr Tusk exactly 1,000 days after the 2016 referendum which delivered a 52%-48% majority to quit the EU.

The former Polish prime minister told a press conference in Brussels: “In the light of the consultations that I have conducted over the past days, I believe that a short extension would be possible.

“But it would be conditional on a positive vote on the Withdrawal Agreement in the House of Commons.

“The question remains open as to the duration of such an extension.”