Exclusive: extra time could be used for renegotiation but will be billed as chance for no-deal planningBrussels is preparing to offer Boris Johnson a no-deal Brexit extension beyond 31 October in an attempt to help him keep the Conservative party together and provide one more chance to strike an agreement deal. There is growing confidence among key member states that a no-deal Brexit can be avoided after the Commons voted this week to prevent the next prime minister, likely to be Johnson, from proroguing parliament. “The withdrawal agreement is the withdrawal agreement,” Merkel told a news conference. I couldn’t | Jonathan Freedland Read moreSenior EU sources said discussions had been held on how to manage the 24 hours before a no-deal Brexit should it happen. On Friday Alberto Costa, a Conservative MP who is fighting to secure post-Brexit rights for EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens in the EU, led a delegation to meet the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier.

Source: The Guardian July 19, 2019 17:22 UTC