Theresa May to head to Berlin to request short Brexit delay

Theresa May will dash to Berlin tomorrow to persuade EU leaders to grant a short extension to Article 50 while the government still wrangles with how to progress with Brexit.

The Prime Minister will meet German chancellor Angela Merkel tomorrow, a day before a crunch EU summit in which the bloc will consider whether to grant May's request for an extension to Article 50 – the mechanism that allows the UK to leave the bloc – from 12 April to 30 June.

The EU has been reluctant to accept an extension beyond April because it would mean the UK would take part in the EU parliamentary elections, running the risk of a number of eurosceptic candidates gaining ground.

The Prime Minister's request for a June extension came after the House of Commons rejected her withdrawal agreement for the third time and by 58 votes. 

Since then May has held talks with the Labour party in a bid to find a compromise solution that can win a majority in parliament.

Labour frontbencher Keir Starmer today said there has been no "breakthrough" in talks with the government on how to break the Brexit deadlock.

“There aren’t any scheduled talks yet but I have no doubt things will develop today,” he added.

Britain is due to leave the EU without a deal on 12 April unless a new date is agreed at the EU Summit on Wednesday.