This archive report was first published on 4 October 2019.
On 19 October 2019, a crucial deadline loomed for the UK's Brexit negotiations. According to government documents submitted to a Scottish court, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson planned to send a letter to the EU requesting a Brexit delay if no deal was agreed by that date.
The revelation came as campaigners sought a ruling forcing the PM to comply with the law. The Benn Act, named after Labour MP Hilary Benn who spearheaded its passage into law, requires the government to request an extension to the 31 October Brexit deadline if a deal has not been signed off by Parliament by 19 October.
Downing Street initially denied the allegations, stating that the UK would still be leaving the EU on 31 October. However, a senior Downing Street source later clarified that the government would comply with the Benn Act, which only imposes a specific duty concerning Parliament's letter requesting a delay.
Any extension to the Article 50 process would have to be agreed by all 27 other EU leaders. The EU's Irish Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar, stated that the EU would consider a request for a further Brexit extension if Mr Johnson asked for one, adding that an extension would be better than a no-deal Brexit.
However, Mr Varadkar emphasized that many other EU countries would need a 'good reason' to approve a further delay to the UK's exit. The EU's focus remained on reaching a deal with the UK by the summit of European leaders on 17 October, which Mr Varadkar believed was still possible.
