Donald Tusk (centre) said last night that a 12-month ‘flextension’ offer is ‘the only reasonable way out’ of the crisis and will urge leaders of the EU’s 27 member states to back him later today. This morning the Prime Minister (left) sent a letter to Mr Tusk (right) to formally request an extension to Article 50 that will delay the UK’s departure beyond April 12 to June 30 – but wants a ‘termination clause’. This would allow the UK to leave on May 22 – the day before European elections – if a deal can be pushed through the UK Parliament. But Mrs May’s letter admits that if she fails Britain would go to the polls to elect MEPs between May 23 and May 26, who would then be paid a £85,000-a-year salary to sit in Brussels as the UK tries to leave. EU sources have said they will reject Mrs May’s June 30 Brexit date and tell her that a year-long deal is the only option. With No Deal now off the table she would be forced to accept it. Theresa May’s cabinet is considering giving MPs a vote on holding a second referendum as the price of a deal with Jeremy Corbyn, it emerged today. But ministers are considering quitting if Britain does not leave by May and backbench Brexiteers said today: ‘The little bit of credibility she has left would be completely shattered’
