EU prepares a 3-month Brexit ‘f lextension’

BRUSSELS is poised to sign off a three-month Brexit extension with the option of leaving by December 1.

According to a leaked draft of a proposal being considered by EU ambassadors this morning, Britain would be granted a delay until January 31.

But the document also lists December 1 and January 1 as potential Brexit days if Boris Johnson’s deal is passed by the Commons before the extension deadline.

Sources last night said they were cautiously optimistic the ‘flextension’ proposal will be signed off by the ambassadors. It comes after France refused to agree to the plan on Friday during a fiery meeting in which they were the only member state to block it.

It is understood French president Emmanuel Macron has been leant on over the weekend and that due to developments in Britain, including a new Liberal Democrat plan for triggering a General Election on December 9, he is now open to signing it off. Mr Macron’s position has been that a General Election is a good enough reason to grant an extension.

But last week he was not convinced one would happen, partly due to Labour failing to say whether it would back one in a Commons vote today.

It is understood a side declaration to be published with the extension decision will make clear Brussels expects Britain to nominate and send a UK Commissioner after October 31. Mr Johnson previously said Britain would stop sending one after October 31 – the day he said Brexit would happen.

According to a draft, the declaration also states no major changes can be made to the Prime Minister’s deal. It says: ‘The European Council firmly states that it excludes any reopening of the Withdrawal Agreement in the future and recalls that any unilateral commitment, statement or other act by the United Kingdom should be compatible with the letter and the spirit of the Withdrawal Agreement.’

EU Council chief Donald Tusk has been in intensive discussions with EU leaders over the weekend.

However, member states could still hold off making a final decision abut the extension until tomorrow morning, and until it is formally signed off the terms could change.