Mr Macron, who spoke with Prime Minister Mr Johnson by telephone over the weekend, had been reluctant to sign up for idea, preferring the idea of a shorter delay – but has now relented, according to draft papers seen by the Politico website. The document states: “With a view to allowing for the finalisation of the ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement, the European Council agrees to a further extension until 31 January 2020.” Speaking after a meeting of EU27 ambassadors on Friday, one diplomat said all 26 other EU countries, together with the European Commission, the European Council and the European Parliament, had backed a three-month delay.
The diplomat added: “We were 29 against one.
“The perspective of elections in the UK was clearly reinforced over the weekend, several parties support it in principle, including the Lib Dems and SNP.
“The conditions of the extension were reinforced and clarified, namely the non-negotiable nature of the Withdrawal Agreement and the possibility of conducting meetings about European business among the EU 27 alone without the UK to prepare for the future.”
The extension will be terminated early if Mr Johnson succeeds in getting his Withdrawal and Implementation Bill approved by Parliament before then.
JUST IN: Boris Johnson given huge election boost as Lib Dems in crucial support
European Council President Donald Tusk (Image: GETTY)
Significantly, as well as remaining a member state until the new withdrawal date with full voting rights and obligations, the UK will be required to appoint a European Commissioner during this time, the document adds.
The UK’s current EU Commissioner is Julian King, he was nominated to the post by David Cameron in one of his final acts as Prime Minister before stepping down as Prime Minister on July 11, 2016.
Mr Johnson is hoping to force a general election after submitting a motion today – but needs a two-thirds majority, meaning Mr Corbyn’s support for such a move is crucial.
A separate source also suggested a three-month delay was imminent, saying it was “most likely” to be agreed today.
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Emmanuel Macron’s decision will pile pressure on Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (Image: GETTY)
9.14pm update: Brexit For Kids book offers hope to parents
A new book has taken on the challenging task of explaining Brexit to children using a cast of animals.
“I want to Leave this Book” is published on October 31 at 11pm, the time to the UK was scheduled to leave the bloc – although this is currently looking impossible.
Author, Richard David Lawman, said: “As a father to an inquisitive four-year-old, I started to think about how I would explain the current political landscape to my daughter and the answer was, I couldn’t.
“I Want to Leave This Book is the answer to my dilemma – and clearly one that parents across the UK are facing. The book puts Brexit into a child-friendly context with a cast of animals debating whether they are better off staying in the book, or if more fun and adventure awaits them in another.
“After they vote to leave they can’t agree on what type of book they want to be in and arguments and chaos quickly ensue.”
The book attempts to explain Brexit using a cast of animals (Image: WatAdventure)
9.07am update: Johnson’s deal “full of pitfalls and traps”, says Tice
Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal is marred by “pitfalls and traps”, Brexit Party chairman Richard Tice has said.
Mr Tice tweeted: “The government got these negotiations wrong from the start. We need a clean break first.
“That gives us the leverage we need to get a simple, straightforward trade deal.
“No need for the pitfalls and traps in Boris’ deal!”
8.48am update: Shares dip over Brexit worries
A sell-off in financial stocks following an underwhelming earnings update from HSBC kept UK shares in the negative territory on Monday, while confusion around a potential delay to Brexit and a snap election lingered.
The bluechips were 0.4 percent lower by 0806 GMT, with HSBC responsible for more than half of the index’s fall, while the FTSE 250 was largely unchanged.
HSBC slumped three percent, heading for its worst day in eight months, as its third-quarter profit missed market expectations amid ongoing macro-economic uncertainties including the Sino-U.S. trade war, Brexit and the Hong Kong protests.
8.21am update: High noon showdown for Labour
Jeremy Corbyn is heading for a high noon showdown with party rivals, with his allies keen to push for a December 12 election, PoliticsHome editor Kevin Schofield has said.
Mr Schofield tweeted: “Special Shadow Cabinet to be held at noon to sign off on the Labour whip for today’s general election vote.
“Will Jeremy Corbyn’s allies succeed in shifting the party in favour of a 12 December poll, or will their MPs be ordered to abstain?”
8.14am update: Corbyn “has been missing in action on Brexit”, says Swinson
Ms Swinson said the Bill the Lib Dems and the SNP will table tomorrow, which will represent a way of getting round the terms of the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act 2011, , is only one page of paper as they tried to keep it “as simple as possible”.
Asked what she would say to the Labour Party, Ms Swinson told the BBC’s Andrew Marr yesterday: “Well, I’d say to people that advocate waiting is that they are waiting for something and I’m not really sure what they think is going to happen.
“And I think there’s a lot of wishful thinking going on there.”
She added: “Jeremy Corbyn has been missing in action on Brexit. He has let down the millions of people in this country who absolutely passionately want to remain in the EU.”
Jo Swinson talked to Andrew Marr yesterday (Image: Reuters)
8.05am update: EU “most likely” to agree delay until January 31
The European Union will “most likely” agree to delay Brexit until January 31 on Monday, said a source close to French President Emmanuel Macron who last week prevented the bloc from reaching a decision on the delay.
The source said: “There will most likely be an agreement on Monday morning between the 27 on extension until January 31,”adding that came after Macron spoke to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson during the weekend.
“The prospect of elections has strengthened significantly over the weekend.”
The source stressed the third postponement of Brexit would come with conditions. They include a refusal to renegotiate Johnson’s divorce agreement and giving a green light to the 27 other EU countries to meet without Britain to discuss the bloc’s future.
8.03am update: 50mph maximum speed limit on Ken’s motorways
All other traffic on the motorway – including lorries carrying out UK deliveries – must use a 50mph contraflow of two lanes in each direction on the London-bound side of the road.
Several holding areas to park lorries are also available to be activated if required, including at Manston Airfield.
Hauliers must be ready to show they have the correct paperwork before reaching the border or face being turned back.
Motorists have been warned to allow for extra travel time and to make sure they have food and water in their vehicles in case of delays.
8am update: Operation Brock now in force
The government is stepping up its preparations for a no-deal Brexit by activating measures to manage traffic on Kent’s motorways despite the EU considering an extension.
Operation Brock will come into force at 6am on Monday – three days before the UK is due to withdraw from the EU and the day Parliament votes on whether to hold a snap general election.
It comes amid signs the EU is set to grant a fresh Brexit delay until the end of January after Boris Johnson was forced – under the terms of the so-called Benn Act – to request a further extension.
The traffic measures are designed to keep the M20 open in both directions in case there is a disruption to services across the English Channel.
Lorries heading for Europe will face a 30mph limit on a 13-mile stretch of the coastbound carriage of the M20.
7.55am update: Lib Dems offer Johnson way of forcing election
Boris Johnson will likely fail to secure “super majority” support for a December general election – but knows he will require 100 fewer MPs to grant the same request just 24 hours later.
The Prime Minister’s election bid on Monday, to be made under the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act (FTPA), would require a two-thirds Commons majority – 434 MPs – to agree to an election on December 12.
Labour’s lack of support for the proposal means it is likely to be defeated when voted upon on Monday evening. But the Liberal Democrats and Scottish National Party have offered Mr Johnson a way out of the deadlock.
Mr Johnson has already had two requests for an election refused. Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson and the SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford have put forward a tightly-drafted Bill that would grant an election on December 9 – three days earlier than the PM’s suggested polling date – as long as the European Union grant an extension until January 31.
The draft law, currently scheduled for Tuesday’s sitting, would require a simple majority of 320 MPs to support it in order to dissolve Parliament – 114 fewer than under the FTPA “super majority” rules.
