Theresa May asks EU for Brexit delay

Downing Street has released the text of Theresa May's letter to EU Council President Donald Tusk. It asks for an extension to the Brexit process until 30 June – after the European elections, which May says it would be "unacceptable" for the UK to take part in.

CNN's Luke McGee notes two significant dates: May 23 and April 11.

Why this is important: Elections to the European Parliament are due to begin across Europe on May 23. Some legal experts suggest the UK can't extend the Brexit process beyond this point without taking part in those elections. Others say the UK can remain in the EU until the new parliamentary session begins on July 1 – hence the UK's request for a delay until the day before.

The second significant date is April 11. This is the date by which the UK Parliament must legislate to take part in those European elections. That means Brexit must be resolved one way or another by then.

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn began his questions to the Prime Minister by saying May has led the UK into a "full-scale national crisis."

Corbyn adds that he will be meeting MPs today and leaders in Brussels tomorrow in an effort to break the deadlock. "Will the Prime Minister meet me today?" he asks.

May says she will meet with anyone to discuss Europe – but says "it's a bit rich" for Corbyn to ask for another meeting, given that Corbyn had previously refused to meet May after her first "meaningful vote" on her deal was rejected.

Theresa May has told the House of Commons that the delay she has requested from the European Union will extend the Brexit process until June 30.

"I am not prepared to delay Brexit any further than the 30th June," the Prime Minister said.

Taking part in May's European elections would be unacceptable, and would not be in anyone's interest, she added.

Prime Minister's Questions is starting now in the House of Commons.

May's all-important letter to the EU, asking for an extension to the Brexit process, still hasn't been received in Brussels, a senior EU official told CNN.

That means European leaders have been unable to address the question of the delay, because it's unclear exactly what May is asking them for.

May will head to Brussels to join EU leaders on Thursday, but time is running out for her request to be submitted and discussed before European leaders take a final decision.

And yet more uncertainty could follow Wednesday's emergency debate in parliament, known as an SO24 -- if the motion is approved by MPs, it would force May to change the wording of the letter to ask for a longer extension.

Speculation is brewing in Westminster over a move that could throw Theresa May's Brexit plan into further chaos.

An application for an emergency debate on May's Brexit extension request is set to be made later Wednesday, CNN has confirmed. If the debate goes ahead and is supported by lawmakers, it would force the Prime Minister to change the wording of her letter to the EU and ask for a longer Brexit extension, rather than a short one.

What this means: The application is set to be made by opposition Labour MP Alison McGovern. Emergency debates can be requested under Standing Order No. 24, or SO24.

If the Speaker of the House, John Bercow, approves the request, a debate and vote would follow on whether to force May's hand.

The plan would need the support of the Labour front bench for it to succeed. Asked if the party would support the move, a spokesperson told the Press Association: "The Prime Minister should make a statement. If she doesn't we will support all measures to force a debate in Parliament on this matter."

If the emergency debate is supported, parliament would take control of the Brexit extension request -- but ultimately, whether the requested extension is a long or short one, the final decision on whether to accept it still lies with the EU.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told German public radio that “the end of the road has now been reached" on Brexit. "There is no more 'more,'" he said.

Asked by Deutschlandradio about a possible shorter extension period of Brexit, Juncker said: "These months in the end have to bring about an approval by the British Parliament for the present treaty text.

"If this does not happen and Great Britain does not leave at the end of March as foreseen, then we are -- and I don’t like saying this -- in God’s hands. But I believe God’s patience is wearing thin," he added.

Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of the European Commission, has told German public radio he does not believe a decision on Theresa May's Brexit extension request will be made this week.

Speaking to Deutschlandfunk Wednesday morning, Juncker said he isn't counting on a decision at the EU council meeting Thursday. There would likely be consultations again next week about a possible delay, he said.

According to DLF, Juncker said the EU had made large gestures towards Great Britain, and now London needs to provide clarity.

To date, the EU has stood firmly by the deal it reached with the UK -- the so-called Withdrawal Agreement -- insisting it was locked down and ready for Britain to approve.

But given the UK Parliament's reluctance to do so, and the consequent prospect of a delay to Brexit, something interesting has happened. For the first time in the Brexit process, we are approaching a European Council summit where the behavior of the EU can't easily be predicted.

The difficulty for the EU is that, long or short, any delay comes with complications. And this is where opinions in European capitals start to diverge.

If the UK hasn't left the EU by May 22, it might have to take part in elections to the European Parliamentary elections -- and if that happens, there is a real concern in Brussels that hardline euroskeptics could stand for election, in protest at Britain not yet having Brexited.  An EU source recently told CNN of worries in Brussels that far-right figures like Tommy Robinson could end up as Members of the European Parliament, with all the associated attention that brings.

But a shorter delay of just a few weeks brings its own problems. There is no guarantee that by the end of it, the UK Parliament would have given a thumbs-up to May's deal. In reality, it could just mean a delay to a no-deal Brexit that almost everyone claims they want to avoid, but still remains the default legal position.

Read more of Luke McGee's analysis here.