Following a nine-hour summit of the heads of state of the EU in Brussels earlier this month, Brexit has been delayed until 31 October – 7 months later than the original departure date of 29 March 2019.

The UK Prime Minister had hoped to get a three month extension and the result is shorter than the 12 months preferred by some EU leaders. Reports emerging from the summit suggest that the French President Emmanuel Macron was in favour of the Halloween extension.

However, the deadline can still be shortened if the UK Parliament passes a Brexit deal. Talks between the Conservative and Labour party continue. But it does mean that the UK may very well have to contest the May European Parliament elections.

Emerging at 2:30 am following extensive talks, European Council President Donald Tusk had a clear “message to our British friends…. This extension is as flexible as I expected, and a little bit shorter than I expected, but it’s still enough to find the best possible solution. Please do not waste this time.”

Theresa May said she was hopeful of getting a Brexit deal before May 22 – meaning the UK wouldn’t have to partake in the upcoming European elections.

“I continue to believe we need to leave the EU, with a deal, as soon as possible….And vitally, the EU have agreed the extension can be terminated when the withdrawal agreement has been ratified … The choices we now face are stark, and the timetable is clear. We must now press on at pace with our efforts to reach a consensus,” she said.

The EU had a clear message emerging from the summit – the withdrawal agreement is not up for renegotiation. The UK Parliament must agree on a way forward in the negotiations but the option to revoke Article 50 and effectively reverse Brexit remains on the table.