May prepares to plead for short Brexit delay

Theresa May today acknowledged that European leaders would reject her pleas for a short Brexit extension to keep pressure on MPs to approve her deal. Arriving at a special European summit in Brussels, the prime minister said that even though she had asked for a limited extension until June 30, most important was that the UK could leave as soon as the withdrawal agreement was ratified. EU leaders are expected to offer the prime minister an extension until December or even March next year. Under Article 50, it would end as soon as a Brexit deal was concluded.