Brexit deadline moved to 31 October

Britain will not suddenly leave the EU this evening.

The European Union have agreed for an extension to the Brexit date following a request by British Prime Minister Theresa May. The EU leaders have agreed to a 'flexible' extension to the end of October, subject to certain conditions, including one which calls for elections to the European Parliament to take place in Britain and the north of Ireland in May.

Theresa May had been forced by an act of parliament by backbench MPs, rushed through Westminster and which became law on Monday, requiring May to seek an extension to prevent a sudden 'no deal' exit from the EU.

The British PM is now likely to come under renewed pressure to quit as Tory leader and call a British general election.

The terms of the extension will allow Britain to leave the EU as soon as Westminster passes a deal. Other conditions of the deal include guarantees Britain will not try to undermine the EU during the extra time it has been offered, and a review of the extension at the next EU summit in June to ensure the conditions are being met.

The outcome averts a potential disaster at 11pm tonight, which would have seen Britain suddenly drop out of the EU and require the sudden imposition of customs and security controls for the border through Ireland.

While Britain will not suddenly leave the EU this evening, a no-deal Brexit still cannot be ruled out in the coming months. Under tonight's agreement, a failure by London to hold elections to the European Parliament without a deal in place would force a crash-out Brexit on 1 June.

Britain could still avoid the humiliating process of holding European elections if Westminster agrees a Brexit deal before the elections take place on May 23. Despite the uncertainty, plans to hold European elections in Britain and the Six Counties are being set in train. This will have the knock-on effect of reducing the number of MEPs to be elected in the 26 Counties on the same day, which had been set to increase by two.