While UK PM May is seeking Brexit extension till June 30, it’s reported that EU Tusk is considering “flextension” instead.

An unnamed EU official was quoted saying “the only reasonable way out would be a long but flexible extension. I would call it a ‘flextension’.” That is, “we could give the UK a year-long extension, automatically terminated once the Withdrawal Agreement has been accepted and ratified by the House of Commons”.

One clear advantage is that even if the Commons cannot approve the WA, “UK would still have enough time to rethink its Brexit strategy. A short extension if possible, and a long one if necessary. It seems to be a good scenario for both sides, as it gives the UK all the necessary flexibility, while avoiding the need to meet every few weeks to further discuss Brexit extensions”.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May wrote a formal letter to European Council President Donald Tusk, requesting Article 50 extension till June 20.

May said that she’s already started talks with opposition leader to agree on a proposal for the Commons that allow an order Brexit. Invitation for discussion was also extended more broadly to other MPs to achieve a consensus. If no single unified approach is achieved, May’s Government pledges to look to establish a small number of clear options on future relationship to be put the the House.

May said the steps “demonstrate that the Government is determined to bring this process to a resolution quickly”. And, “the government will want to agree a timetable for ratification that allows the United Kingdom to withdraw from the European Union before 23 May 2019 and therefore cancel the European Parliament elections, but will continue to make responsible preparations to hold the elections should this not prove possible”.

Here is May’s letter:

UK Prime Minister Theresa May and opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn held another day of productive (as described by Conservatives) and technical ( as described by Labour) talks on Brexit. No conclusion was made yet and discussions will continue on Friday. May will need to bring back her plans to a EU summit on April 10, just two days before the April 12 cliff edge, if UK is to avoid no-deal Brexit.

Corbyn told Labour MPs that “agenda items were customs arrangements, single market alignment including rights and protections, agencies and programmes, internal security, legal underpinning to any agreements and confirmatory vote.” It’s reported that in accordance with Labour’s demands an option on confirmatory referendum on any Brexit deal would be tabled in any vote next week. That would be included in May’s letter to Corbyn on Friday, outlining the agreement. But such a move would definitely trigger blackslashes from pro-Brexit Conservatives.

In the House of Lords, Pro-Brexit members were accused of filibustering to block the bill that blocks no-deal Brexit. The Yvette Cooper bill, which would require the PM to request an article 50 extension and avoid a no-deal Brexit, will remain with the Lords until Monday. It was originally intended to be fast-tracked through the Lords by the end of Thursday.

European Commission Vice President Jyrki Katainen warned that “hard Brexit is increasingly possible because we don’t know what the alternative is”.

He also complained that “You only know what Britain doesn’t want, but you don’t know what Britain wants and, taking into account the limited number of days we have available, it is logical to think we are rushing toward a hard Brexit. But hopefully I am wrong.”

An emergency bill to prevent no-deal Brexit was fast-tracked through the House of Commons on Wednesday, by just one vote – 313 ayes to 312 noes. The cross-party bill was spearheaded by Labour’s Yvette Cooper and the Conservative Oliver Letwin. under it, a legal mechanism is created where the Commons can instruct the Prime Minister to see Article 50 extension in absence of an approval resolution of Brexit withdrawal agreement. It also restrict the Prime Minister’s discretion about whether and when to seek and Article 50 extension. The bill will now be sent to the House of Lords on Thursday and passage is generally expected.

EU’s objection to more short extension is rather clear though. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker already told the European Parliament that “the 12th of April is the ultimate deadline for approval of the Withdrawal Agreement by the House of Commons.” And, “if it has not done so by then, no further short extension will be possible.” First Vice President Frans Timmermans also told Germany’s Die Welt newspaper that “we cannot forever continue this way in the Brexit negotiations and always extend by two weeks.” He said, “the British parliament must now make a decision and finally say what London wants.”

Meanwhile, PM Theresa May and Labour leader Jeremy held constructive yet inconclusive meeting. Corbyn described Wednesday’s discussions as “useful but inconclusive.” Labour spokesperson said “we have had constructive exploratory discussions about how to break the Brexit deadlock”, and “we have agreed a programme of work between our teams to explore the scope for agreement.”

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker warned that UK will not be granted another short Article 50 extension unless the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement is ratified by the parliament. He told the European Parliament that “the 12th of April is the ultimate deadline for approval of the Withdrawal Agreement by the House of Commons.” And, “if it has not done so by then, no further short extension will be possible.”

He added: “A ‘no-deal’ at midnight on the 12th of April is now a very likely scenario. It is not the outcome I want. But it is an outcome for which I have made sure the EU is ready… UK will be affected more than EU because there is no such thing as a ‘managed’ or ‘negotiated no-deal’ and there is no such thing as a ‘no-deal transition’.”