EU agrees to delay Brexit until 22 May if MPs back Theresa May’s deal

The EU has said it will agree to a short delay to Brexit only if MPs back Theresa May's withdrawal deal next week.

A leaked EU document read: "The European Council commits to agreeing to an extension until 22 May 2019, provided the WA is approved by the HoC next week. Given that The UK does not intend to hold elections to the EP [European parliament], no extension is possible beyond that date."

Earlier today the Eu's chief negotiator Michel Barnier said the short delay should be "conditional" on MPs ratifying May's deal. "We have done our best. Now the solution is in London," he said.

Michel Barnier: "We have done our best. Now the solution is in London"

EU's chief negotiator says short #Brexit delay requested by Theresa May "should be conditional" on MPs passing her deal next weekhttps://t.co/zEEALenClu pic.twitter.com/9ZfosrXhgd

— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) March 21, 2019

Yesterday the Prime Minister wrote to EU council president Donald Tusk to ask for an extension to Article 50 – the mechanism that allows the UK to leave the EU – until 30 June.