EU awaits third UK vote on Brexit deal

BRUSSELS: Britain could ask the EU for a Brexit delay even after the bloc’s March 21 to 22 summit, a senior diplomat said yesterday.

The other 27 EU member states would need to agree to Britain’s request for any delay beyond the current leave date of March 29. EU diplomats said national leaders of the 27 did not necessarily need to meet physically to approve any such request – if it came from London.

As the EU ponders the consequences of any Brexit delay, it also awaits a possible third vote in the UK parliament on Prime Minister Theresa May’s divorce agreement.

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he hoped the vote would go ahead today, but only if the government was certain it would have the numbers to win it.