Reaction after EU leaders agree Brexit delay

Summary

The European Council agrees to delay Brexit until 22 May if PM's deal approved by MPs
If the deal is not approved, the European Council says an extension until 12 April will apply
'Almost everything is now in the hands of British Parliament and government,' says Donald Tusk
Theresa May stresses importance of MPs approving deal next week to 'end uncertainty'
PM says she will 'work hard to build support to get her deal through'
A petition on the Parliament website calling for Brexit to be cancelled passes three million signatures

Live Reporting

Harriet Agerholm, Katharina Schoffmann, Emma Harrison and Owen Amos

Tusk 'did not rule out a longer extension'published at 17:03 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019
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MPs react to Tusk remarkspublished at 17:02 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019
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Conservative former minister Guto Bebb says that the UK is now facing a choice between no-deal or a referendum on her deal.
"The prime minister has had two goes at her deal," but both times the deal has been rejected by MPs, he adds.
Former Tory MP Sarah Wollaston - now in the Independent Group - says the Commons has rejected the withdrawal agreement twice, and "this is not what the people meant" by Brexit.
She says that the prime minister could get her deal through the Commons if she put it to a confirmatory referendum.
'A choreographed squeeze'?published at 16:56 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019
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Tusk: 'We cannot give up seeking positive solution'published at 16:42 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019
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SNP criticises ministers over Brexit statementspublished at 16:40 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019
Emergency Brexit debate
House of Commons
Parliament
Image source, HoC
SNP's Europe spokesperson Peter Grant says that ministers "say whatever they feel needs to be said" when they defend government Brexit policy in the Commons.
"If it happens to later coincide with the truth, that's useful," he adds.
Tonight's meetings...and a speech?published at 16:29 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019
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Decision on extension could be finalised next week - Tuskpublished at 16:28 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019
Mr Tusk adds that if there is a "positive vote" in the the House of Commons next week "we can finalise and formalise the decision on extension in the written procedure".
"However, if there is such a need, I will not hesitate to invite the members of the European Council for a meeting to Brussels next week," he says.
'We must stop this madness now' - Allenpublished at 16:27 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019
Emergency Brexit debate
House of Commons
Parliament
Independent Group MP Heidi Allen says the prime minister must bring indicative votes to the House "as a matter of urgency" as "we are looking at no-deal".
"Let's not play the game," Ms Allen says, calling for free votes on the issue.
"We must stop this madness now," she concludes.
Tusk 'has massively raised the stakes'published at 16:26 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019
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'Best way to deliver Brexit is to support PM's deal'published at 16:25 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019
Emergency Brexit debate
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Parliament
In the Commons, Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay concludes his speech saying that the best way to deliver on the 2016 referendum is to support the prime minister's deal.
"This is how the government should proceed," he says.
PM and Tusk spoke this afternoonpublished at 16:23 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019
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EU puts no-deal 'firmly back on the agenda'published at 16:22 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019
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Tusk: Extension poses 'legal and political' questionspublished at 16:21 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019
European Council President Donald Tusk says the extension poses "questions of a legal and political nature" and EU leaders will discuss this tomorrow.
He adds: "At this time I do not foresee an extraordinary European Council."
EU leaders could agree to short delay, if May's deal passespublished at 16:21 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019
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Confusion over 'meaningful vote' date...published at 16:20 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019
In reply to independent MP Sarah Wollaston, Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay says the government has already committed to hold a "meaningful vote" on Brexit on Monday.
This is the term that has been commonly used to refer to the vote that has to take place in Parliament to ratify the PM's Brexit deal.
However in response to a point of order from Barry Sheerman, Mr Barclay clarifies that he was referring to a neutral motion already tabled on the next steps - not a ratification vote.
'Tusk lays down the gauntlet'published at 16:19 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019
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'Three options: no Brexit, a no-deal Brexit or PM's deal'published at 16:18 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019
Emergency Brexit debate
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Parliament
No-deal would be economically disruptive, Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay says.
He adds that there are three options; no Brexit, no-deal, or to support the prime minister's deal.
Labour MP Stephen Timms asks what the Brexit Secretary was doing when he commended last week's government motion on an extension of Article 50 and then voted against it.
Stephen Barclay says it was only at the commitment of a further amendable motion on 25 March that the chief whip was in a position to change the voting instructions.
'No clarity' from Labour on preferred extension lengthpublished at 16:16 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019
Emergency Brexit debate
House of Commons
Parliament
Image source, HoC
An open-ended delay of Article 50 would not be fulfilling the will of the people, Brexit Secretary Mr Barclay says.
He questions what extension the Labour Party is seeking, adding: "there is no clarity from the benches opposite".
'Questions remain' over length of extension - Tuskpublished at 16:15 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019
The European Council President adds that "questions remain" over the duration of an extension.
Short Brexit extension 'possible' - Tuskpublished at 16:13 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019
Breaking
European Council President Donald Tusk says he believes a short Brexit extension "will be possible" but it will be "conditional on a positive vote in the House of Commons".