Boris Johnson has sent a request to the EU for a delay to Brexit – but without his signature.
The request was accompanied by a second letter, signed by Mr Johnson, saying he believes a delay would be a mistake.
The PM was required by law to ask the EU for an extension to the 31 October deadline after losing a Commons vote.
EU Council President Donald Tusk tweeted that he had received the extension request and would consult EU leaders “on how to react”.
Opposition MPs have warned the PM that if he tries to circumvent Parliament’s instructions to seek a delay, then he may find himself in the law courts.
Mr Johnson previously said he would “rather be dead in a ditch” than ask the EU to delay Brexit, and the UK would leave on 31 October “do or die”.
Hours after losing a crunch vote in a historic Saturday session in the House of Commons, the prime minister ordered a senior diplomat to send an unsigned photocopy of the request for a delay, which was forced on him by MPs last month.
The second letter from Mr Johnson – signed off this time – makes clear he personally believes a delay would be damaging.
It says the government will press on with efforts to pass the revised Brexit deal agreed with EU leaders last week into law, and that he is confident of doing so by 31 October.
A cover note from Sir Tim Barrow, the UK’s representative in Brussels, explained the first letter complied with the law as agreed by Parliament.
BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg described the decision to send three documents as “controversial”, predicting “there will be a fight about whether Boris Johnson is trying to circumvent the court”.
“This is heading straight for the court, and it may very quickly end up in the Supreme Court,” she added.
Asked on BBC Breakfast whether the PM’s move was “childish, Conservative Brexiteer MP Nigel Evans said: “Well he was going to be criticized if he didn’t send the letter because it would have been against the law.”
He added that “it’s not all in our gift”, and that EU leaders may look at both letters and deny the request for a delay.
Earlier, Mr Johnson rang European leaders, including Mr Tusk, to insist that the letter “is Parliament’s letter, not my letter”.
What did the PM say in the letter he signed?
PM’s signed letter
Dear Donald,
It was good to see you again at the European Council this week where we agreed the historic new deal to permit the orderly withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on October 31.
I am deeply grateful to you, President Juncker and to all my fellow European leaders for the statesmanship and statecraft which enabled us to achieve this historic milestone. I should also register my appreciation for Michel Barnier and his team for their imagination and diplomacy as we concluded the negotiations.
When I spoke in Parliament this morning, I noted the corrosive impact of the long delay in delivering the mandate of the British people from the 2016 referendum. I made clear that, while I believe passionately that both the UK and the EU will benefit from our decision to withdraw and develop a new relationship, that relationship will be founded on our deep respect and affection for our shared culture, civilisation, values and interests.
We will remain the EU’s closest partner and friend. The deal we approved at last week’s European Council is a good deal for the whole of the UK and the whole of the EU.
Regrettably, Parliament missed the opportunity to inject momentum into the ratification process for the new Withdrawal Agreement. The UK Parliament Representative will therefore submit the request mandated by the EU (Withdrawal) (No.2) Act 2019 later today.
It is, of course, for the European Council to decide when to consider the request and whether to grant it. In view of the unique circumstances, while I regret causing my fellow leaders to devote more of their time and energy to a question I had hoped we had resolved last week, I recognise that you may need to convene a European Council.
If it would be helpful to you, I would of course be happy to attend the start of any A50 Council so that I could answer properly any question on the position of HM Government and progress in the ratification process at that time.
Meanwhile, although I would have preferred a different result today, the Government will press ahead with ratification and introduce the necessary legislation early next week. I remain confident that we will complete that process by 31 October.
Indeed, many of those who voted against the Government today have indicated their support for the new deal and for ratifying it without delay. I know that I can count on your support and that of our fellow leaders to move the deal forward, and I very much hope therefore that on the EU side also, the process can be completed to allow the agreement to enter into force, as the European Council Conclusions mandated.
While it is open to the European Council to accede to the request mandated by Parliament or to offer an alternative extension period, I have made clear since becoming Prime Minister, and made clear to Parliament again today, my view, and the Government’s position, that a further extension would damage the interests of the UK and our EU partners, and the relationship between us.
We must bring this process to a conclusion so that we can move to the next phase and build our new relationship on the foundations of our long history as neighbours and friends in this continent our peoples share. I am passionately committed to that endeavour.
I am copying this letter to Presidents Juncker and Sassoli, and to members of the European Council.
Yours sincerely,
Boris Johnson
At the first Saturday sitting in the Commons for 37 years, MPs voted in favor of an amendment withholding approval of Mr Johnson’s Brexit deal until all the necessary legislation to complete.
Tabled by Tory MP Sir Oliver Letwin, the amendment was intended to ensure that Mr Johnson would comply with the terms of the so-called Benn Act.
Under that act, passed by MPs last month and which required the PM to seek a Brexit extension, Mr Johnson had until 23:00 BST on Saturday to send a letter requesting a delay.
In a letter to MPs and peers on Saturday evening, he said the EU could reject “Parliament’s request for further delay”, adding he “will not negotiate a delay”.
“I will tell the EU what I have told the British public for my 88 days as prime minister: further delay is not a solution,” he said.
“It is quite possible that our friends in the European Union will reject Parliament’s request for a further delay (or not take a decision quickly).”
The Commons defeat marked a major setback for the PM – although Mr Johnson said he was not “daunted or dismayed” and remained committed to taking Britain out by the end of the month with his “excellent deal”.
‘Acting like a child’
However, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said in a tweet the prime minister had been told to obey the law and “despite his petulant posturing and bluster he finally has – he’s asked for an extension”.
He told a rally in Liverpool that Labour had “answers” for Mr Johnson’s Brexit plan.
“We will challenge them all the way, in Parliament next week, we challenge them in crashing out of the EU,” he added.
Anna Soubry, of Change UK, accused the prime minister of acting like a “truculent child”, while Liberal Democrat Christine Jardine MP said Mr Johnson was going against the will of the Commons.
SNP leader at Westminster Ian Blackford said earlier that if Mr Johnson acted as if he was “above the law”, he would find himself in court.
Labour’s Stephen Doughty told the BBC lawyers would be examining Mr Johnson’s actions.
“While he’s sent the legally required letter – that’s quite frankly the only one… the EU leaders will consider legally – if he’s attempting essentially to circumvent or undermine the first one, which he’s required to [send] by law, that’s a very serious matter.”
On the EU side, there has been no official response yet to the contents of the letter, except Mr Tusk confirming he received it.
But the French President, Emmanuel Macron, has already signalled that he believes a new Brexit extension was not good for anyone.
Reluctant EU considers UK request
Boris Johnson literally spelling out his opposition to prolonging the Brexit process by writing a separate letter to Brussels to say so, makes it easier for his peers Emmanuel Macron, Angela Merkel and others to drag their feet a little.
They prefer first to look to the prime minister to make good on his promise to them that their newly-negotiated Brexit deal will *definitely* be passed by Parliament.
But, if push comes to shove, with the alternative being no deal at all… I cannot imagine the EU slamming the door in the face of the UK now.
They will want to know what [the extension] is for. Are there plans in the UK to hold a general election, a second referendum or a referendum on the new Brexit deal? Or is a bit more time needed to pass Brexit-related legislation?
The EU Parliament’s Brexit Steering Group will discuss the outcome of the latest UK vote on Monday, said Brexit co-ordinator Guy Verhofstadt.
He tweeted on Saturday: “Whatever happens next, the marches outside the Parliament show just how important a close EU – UK future relationship is.”
Jacob Rees-Mogg, leader of the Commons, said the government plans to hold a meaningful vote on Monday – although it is not clear if Commons Speaker John Bercow will allow it.
Mr Johnson has also vowed to press ahead with the legislation to implement the deal next week.
