Brexit delay agreed after tumultuous talks with Theresa May

The European Union has agreed a delay to the tortuous Brexit process that avoids the UK crashing out without a deal and throws one last lifeline to the beleaguered British Prime Minister, Theresa May. After hours of negotiations that stretched late into the night in Brussels, the EU rejected May's proposal for a Brexit delay and imposed their own, two-part timetable. The revised deal was agreed after a tense summit at which May failed to convince EU leaders that she could persuade British lawmakers to pass her overall Withdrawal Agreement next week and therefore avoid a no-deal Brexit on March 29. Under the EU's plan, if the House of Commons passes the divorce deal, Britain will leave the EU on May 22. But if May's ill-starred agreement is once again rejected, the UK will be get an unconditional Brexit delay until April 12 to bring new proposals for a way out of the impasse. In that scenario, if the UK agreed to take part in European Parliament elections in May, the possibility would be open for a further extension of several months. "What this means in practice is that until that date, all options will remain open and the cliff-edge will be delayed," European Council President Donald Tusk said. "The UK government is to have a choice of a deal, her deal, a long extension or revoking Article 50." May, who had gone to Brussels seeking an extension until June 30, said she welcomed the council's decision. She said she would return to the UK Friday, where she would "make every effort to ensure that we are able to leave with a deal and move our country forward."