Mubasher: UK prime minister Theresa May informed the House of Commons that she sent a note to Brussels, asking for an extension to Article 50 until 30 June.

Premier May told European Council president Donald Tusk in a letter seeking the extension that she intends to try a third time to get the deal approved.

“As prime minister, I am not prepared to delay Brexit any further than the 30th of June,” May said in a parliamentary session.

Earlier in the day, it was reported that May would write to Tusk requesting “a bit more time” for the UK to get the withdrawal deal approved by the parliament, delaying departure beyond the planned deadline on 29 March.

Last week, UK lawmakers voted in favour of a proposal of a three-month delay to the end of June, while some European Union (EU) leaders suggested another two years would be necessary.

The parliament twice rejected the Brexit agreement the UK prime minister hammered out with the EU last November. It also voted down a proposal to leave the bloc without a transition deal.

The withdrawal plans were thrown into turmoil after the speaker of the parliament ruled that the deal would not be put to vote, unless it is re-submitted in a substantially changed form.