UK’s May to meet Merkel, Macron over Brexit

British Prime Minister Theresa May heads for top-level Brexit talks in Berlin and Paris today as she seeks support for another extension.

May is meeting Angela Merkel in Berlin, followed by Emmanuel Macron in Paris, to urge them to back her request to delay Brexit again until 30 June.

All 27 remaining EU heads of government must agree to an extension if the UK is to avoid the default position of a no-deal Brexit on Friday night.

According to reports, Brexit could be delayed by nearly a year under plans being considered by EU officials.

May is expected to ask the EU for an extension to 30 June in order to get a deal through parliament.

Last night, MPs and peers backed a new law to extend the Brexit process and cross-party talks are expected to continue in the hope of finding a compromise.

The negotiating teams will be joined by Chancellor Philip Hammond and shadow chancellor John McDonnell, with the Labour frontbencher saying they hoped to "broaden the talks".

Last night, the Commons backed a series of Lords amendments to the European Union (Withdrawal) (No 5) Act after it was rushed through both Houses of Parliament.

The cross-party move brought forward by Labour’s Yvette Cooper and others led to May tabling a Commons motion for debate today setting June 30 as the extension date.

The move came as the Government and Labour were holding talks on trying to break the Brexit deadlock.

After officials from the two sides met yesterday, the fresh round of talks will include May's de facto deputy, Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington, and Labour's shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has called on the Government to be more flexible regarding red line issues in the talks.