
EU Council President Tusk has tonight confirmed that he will ask the 27 nations of European Union to accept Boris Johnson’s forced request for a three month delay.
Mr Johnson has suggested that a January extension following MPs rejecting the timetable to approve his Withdrawal Bill would see him abandon his deal and call a general election.
Just minutes after MPs rejected the Programme Motion Mr Tusk tweeted: “Following PM Boris Johnson’s decision to pause the process of ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement, and in order to avoid a no-deal Brexit, I will recommend the EU27 accept the UK request for an extension.
Mr Johnson reluctantly requested an extension on Saturday, after MPs forced his hand.
In a written letter to the EU, Mr Johnson requested the extension to the end of January 2020 – which Mr Tusk has recommended the EU 27 accept.