EU leaders agree to delay Brexit deadline until October 31

Apr 11, 2019 (LBO) –The European Union has agreed to delay the United Kingdom's departure from the EU, known as Brexit, until October 31, saving the continent from what could have been a chaotic no-deal departure at the end of the week. British Prime Minister Theresa May said she would now keep working to get her withdrawal agreement approved by parliament to ensure an orderly split, saying her goal was to leave "as soon as possible". Like many things related to Brexit, the extension was a messy compromise. May came to an emergency summit in Brussels seeking to postpone Britain's departure from the EU until June 30. French President Emmanuel Macron called the six-month extension "the best possible compromise" with other EU leaders who were prepared to give the UK a year to work out its Brexit plan. Leaders of the 27 remaining EU member states met for more than six hours before settling on the end of October, with the possibility of an earlier Brexit if Britain ratifies a withdrawal agreement. Now, the battle begins in Britain over what to do with the extra time. All options from a no-deal Brexit to a general election to no Brexit at all remain on the table. Pro-EU politicians said the next few months should be used to hold a new referendum on whether to leave the EU or remain. Pro-Brexit lawmakers said it was time to replace May with another Conservative leader — preferably a hard-core Brexiteer.