Theresa May has written to European Council president Donald Tusk today with the UK's request for a further delay to Brexit.

The Prime Minister is seeking an extension until June 30, but said she wants to ratify her Withdrawal Agreement by May 23 in order to avoid European Parliament, but will make "responsible preparations" to take part if that does not prove possible.

In her letter, she wrote: "I am writing to inform the European Council that the United Kingdom is seeking a further extension to the period provided under Article 50(3) of the Treaty on European Union, including as applied by Article 106a of the Euratom Treaty.

"The United Kingdom proposes that this period should end on 30 June 2019. If the parties are able to ratify before this date, the Government proposes that the period should be terminated early.

"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."

Mrs May said if ongoing talks with Labour do not lead to a "single unified approach soon" then the Government would instead look to establish a "consensus" on options on a future relationship that could be put to the Commons.

She wrote: "The Government stands ready to abide by the decision of the House, if the Opposition will commit to doing the same."

It comes after reports that President Tusk is set to propose at 'flexible' extension to the timescale for the UK's exit.

The arrangement would reportedly set a maximum end date of next Spring 2020 for the UK's departure while making clear that the UK could leave earlier if it passes the Withdrawal Agreement before then and ratifies a Brexit treaty.

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Mr Tusk is understood to have held talks with officials over several hours in Brussels yesterday outlining his proposals to the key players. 

The proposal - dubbed a 'flex-tension' - is expected to be tabled officially by Mr Tusk later today, but it will require the sign off of all 27 EU member states at the EU's Brexit summit next Wednesday, April 10, when Mrs May will be present. 

Mr Tusk said it was "the only reasonable way out". 

Some EU leaders are likely to be very sceptical about a long extension, however, amid fears that it increases risk of Brexit disorder "infecting" the wider EU region.

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Some are also said to be worried about UK "obstructing" important EU decisions if it remains as a temporary member. 

Meanwhile, Tory MP Damian Collins said ongoing negotiations between Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn would involve "something of a compromise but that compromise means we can deliver on Brexit".

Saying a second referendum would not be necessary, he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I think the public, on the whole, would rather we sorted this out."

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However, Mr Collins said MPs should "look seriously" at ideas around a customs union, such as the Common Market 2.0 plan put forward by former Tory MP Nick Boles, who quit the party after his plan was rejected by the Commons.

The remaining stages of the European Union Withdrawal (No.5) Bill will be considered by peers on Monday, threatening a new political headache for the PM if it is approved.

The Bill, brought forward by backbenchers including Labour's Yvette Cooper, allows Parliament to determine the length of any Brexit extension the Prime Minister should request at the EU summit on April 10.

If the European Council proposes a different extension, Mrs May would be required to return to the Commons to obtain MPs' approval.

Attorney General Geoffrey Cox said the Bill would leave the PM with little room to manoeuvre.

Referring to the Bill's impact on a no-deal option, the Attorney General told the BBC: "It rules it out... the Prime Minister would have little choice but to accept the extension that she's offered."

READ MORE: In full: Theresa May's letter to Donald Tusk requesting Article 50 extension 

Mr Cox said if the talks with Labour failed there would be repercussions.
He said: "The problem, then, would be that we would be in an extension. It's likely to be a long one, by which I mean longer than just a few weeks or months."

Labour MP Siobhain McDonagh predicted a number of her colleagues could quit the party over the issue of a new referendum.

Ms McDonagh told the BBC: "There is going to be outrage if we don't get a second vote.

"Would it be the thing that made me leave the party? I don't think so, there are other issues for me.

"But, would it make some of my colleagues in the parliamentary Labour Party? Yes, a number have said to me that would be the moment that they would leave."

However, a number of Labour MPs representing Leave areas have come out against the idea of a confirmatory referendum.

Talks between the Government and Labour lasted four-and-a-half hours on Thursday.