UK: MPs approve Brexit extension until June 30

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) - British lawmakers on Tuesday have approved a government motion that would enable Prime Minister Theresa May to ask the EU for a Brexit extension to June 30.

The motion was brought by the government after a legislation that forces May to request an extension rather than a no-deal Brexit.

The motion gained the support of 420 MPs while it was being rejected by 110 lawmakers in the House of Commons, receiving a majority of 310.

May, who met German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emanuel Macron on Tuesday, will attend an emergency Brexit summit with the EU leaders on Wednesday to discuss the extension.

The EU previously gave an extension to the U.K. until April 12 but with a condition of approval of a withdrawal agreement.

May’s deal failed to receive support from the House of Commons in three different occasion.

If the EU agrees an extension to June 30, the U.K. will have to take part in upcoming European Parliament elections, which May has tried to avoid while defending her deal as the “best possible deal”.

Also on Tuesday, the cross-party talks between Conservative and Labour parties continued “positively”, according to statements from the parties.

Last week, May said she would hold talks with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to reach consensus on a way forward.