(n0 audio) not but the wit but it"uiéi turrlr if you do not but the candidates forward , if you do not but the candidates forward, and the fact that you are leaving the european union and they made that clear this evening. the very fa ct made that clear this evening. the very fact that jean made that clear this evening. the very fact thatjean claude juncker went on to spell out the preparations that they are making hate out and drop i can't link bbc and they make this clear and the conclusions they had come to tonight, that the new deal planning continues and we are hearing from reporting in the uk tonight that operation yellow hammer, the uk preparations for this are go next week. that tells us though that no bmps. she needs to reach out to them. statement of the obvious time. deal is still very much on the table. it absolutely is. for two she needs to back a lot of them. she reasons, one despite the agreement from brussels tonight, we are due to has no prospect next week of leave next friday and secondly, even winning. chris morris is with me. if it is changed more likely than there is a natural cut—off date. the not, it is a delay to that prospect eu wants to know what's happening. rather than the cancellation of that prospect and that is important for the last three days, this operation she still not really giving an yellow hammer, contingency planning answer. writing on the one for her for it no deal, wednesday to be

pressed on monday and that was not is living with the deal. she doesn't wa nt to when in downing street. and we heard is living with the deal. she doesn't want to revoke article 50. when pressed on the choice between leaving with no deal on the tonight thatjonathan possibility of a longer extension. she wasn't really being drawn. they when in downing street. and we heard tonight that jonathan beale when in downing street. and we heard tonight thatjonathan beale our defence respondent has activated its give a match for the moment. plans to see deployment of up to two and a half thousand troops as part of contingency planning. it remained european council wants to know what a live possibility. happens. we willjust say goodbye to the government has made clear that our world viewers. probably not it is making preparations and a step that up since november. there really is not a will at westminster to change that. the feeling is that it going summit. what happens in terms is really not impossible, let's emphasise the key point, it remains the law of the land and the default option until that law is changed in the next couple of days. of course, of the timetable? we are going to theresa may is the professional kicker of the can and she has kicked

need some direction from the house it as far down the road she possibly of commons. do they come backjust can. you sense that now we have got before that? we can say pretty this very narrow window really of the weeks to the 12th of april that certainly an emergency summit and no longer can she ride two horses, she has to pick one next week? hello thatis certainly an emergency summit and that is because the big thing that's happened if you like in the last two yeah, something has to happen and it hours is that the date within has to happen pretty quickly and thatis has to happen pretty quickly and that is what is informing the mood working towards for two years, the here at westminster. there has been 29th of march is pretty much off table now. it's been an agreement no end of prevarication because the time had not gone out and there was here this evening. the new trigger a lwa ys time had not gone out and there was always the expectation. -- yeah. we 110w always the expectation. -- yeah. we now know that next week mps have to ta ke now know that next week mps have to take a crucial decision on authorising that and changing dates. either the 22nd of may or the british law, we know that on monday 12th of april. the 29th of march is no longer breaks a day which is quite a big thing. it takes a bit of they will have an opportunity, the first of a number, to flesh out whether they can find a majority of the pressure. but next week is still anything else other than the prime minister's deal. that is stipulated asa minister's deal. that is stipulated as a result of the government defeat a very big week in the house of on the second meaningful vote, and then at some stage, there's going to be another attempt on the government commons. but there is a probability to bring back the meaningful vote to the commons and obviously, the eu has set down parameter around having there will be an attempt to get a

ago has set down parameter around having a go next week, about one of those meaningful vote passed but a series of indicative votes. other ways of departure dates. crucially, well, there are two crucial points. doing brexit. all of those things don't have to be done fairly firstly, the government has to convince the speakerjohn bercow that there has been a substantial quickly. no—one escaped to take their foot off the gas. it's coming change of circumstances around the tabling of the vote. his ruling that up their foot off the gas. it's coming up thick and fast. chris mason, in you cannot keep tabling the same thing over and over again, the westminster, when you look at, and government's argument is likely to be that there has been substantial chris mason has left us, quite right, it is very late in the night. changes, the departure date has it's just you and me then. when you changed. things do not look good on talk about those indicative votes, that front and actually, the how do you think that might unfold removal, as we expect, of the no in the timetable? the government deal leaf edge, as its critics see it, next friday, actually removes a would put a motion down on her deal. bit of the jeopardy around the vote next week because the no deal brexit but they got to do first of all. we have to look at the numbers. can the possibility might have gone. —— meaningful vote passed. that's going cliff edge. that may mean that the to be like plan a from the eu and the uk government. the numbers don't government holds on and gives itself the opportunity to get the numbers to pass the vote. chris, stay with seem like there are numbers there at the moment. if that doesn't happen, us to pass the vote. chris, stay with us because i just

to pass the vote. chris, stay with us because ijust want to pass the vote. chris, stay with us because i just want to show you have to start looking at people the roumieu and the council building may is going to appear. parliament being able to decide on there is the lectern, of course we other potential options, including will take you there when theresa may the possibility of studying in the appears but for people who are just joining us, let's quickly go single market, norway style brexit, through, chris has been doing it much softer than the prime minister has been advocating an afar soft brexit than many of her backbenchers very eloquently but let's quickly just show you on—screen what has want. there will also be the been agreed by the eu council this evening. possibility of having a vote on in the past hour, eu leaders have another referendum. we've seen over agreed on the plan to delay the article 50 process. the last few weeks that that has not the eu have agreed to an extension won the confidence of the majority in the house of commons but we will until 22nd may, provided be in in the house of commons but we will beina in the house of commons but we will be in a slightly different era, really, from next week onwards, the withdrawal agreement, knowing those dates have been set the prime minister's deal, is agreed to. out. there are some big decisions coming down the track. decisions if the withdrawal agreement does not which will show the canned being pass, this is the second scenario, the eu has agreed to kicked down the road, there is not much more kicking to be done. an extension until 12th april and expects the uk to indicate a way forward before that date. and the 12th of april is important because that is the cut—off date that the uk would have to inform the let's cross to brussels, eu whether it was taking part in the where jean—claude juncker and donald tusk were speaking.

european elections and again, they reiterate tonight that the withdrawal agreement cannot be reopened. i should say two things. during the discussion among the eu this agreement ensures, chris mason, 27, the leaders approached these requests in a positive spirit. if you are still with us, that there is not going to be a summit on european council decided to approve thursday. i understand emanuel macon push back against that, he did not the strasbourg agreement. regarding wa nt to push back against that, he did not want to come back next thursday, so they have set two scenarios out the strasbourg agreement. regarding which will at least get them to the 12th of april, and i think the the extension, how decisions envisaged two scenarios. in the second scenario, which we should also impress on people is that those first scenario, if the agreement is legal documents that were agreed in passed by the house of commons next strasbourg a week last monday, that has now been put into the withdrawal week, the european council agrees to agreement and forms part of the package and that is important in an extension until the 22nd of may. trying to get the dup across the line. yeah, it is. it absolutely is. in the second scenario, if the just picking up on that point you we re agreement is not agreed to buy the just picking up on that point you were just discussing about a house of commons, the european potential emergency summit at the council agrees for an extension tail end of next week, i willjust insert one caveat, which is that we until the 12th of april. what this

can never predict what is going to happen here at westminster, if there we re happen here at westminster, if there were any problems as the government would see it to trying to change british law abound our departure means in practice is that until that date at the end of next week, and who knows where we might be? but i think in all likelihood, that will date, all options will remain open. resolve itself and so, the big moment of potentialjeopardy or on the excitement, depending on your point of view, at the end of next week will recede, removing the need for any emergency gathering of european leaders. —— around. not removing it entirely, just kicking it a little bit down the road, either into mid april or the tail end of may. just, this is the point where we start disappearing down the rabbit hole, but there are two dates on this agreement and there has to be a legal instrument on monday to change the 29th march, which they did they put on the legislation?” the 29th march, which they did they put on the legislation? i have spent the last couple of years down rabbit holes, christian, so welcome to the borrow. it is a little dark in here are not always easy to find the way

out, that is of a good question and there has been an open question here about the extent to which it will be obligatory on the government's part to actually insert a date. now, the expectation from some of the people i was speaking to is that because of the date in there at the moment, then you stretch that —— scratch that out and logic suggests you put in another one. he was the first possibility and he was the second, it may be of course, if there is not a meaningful vote next week, one of those options is immediately struck out because one of those options is contingent on their being another vote next week. it is a boom time for constitutional experts and practitioners and their phones are going to be ringing even more loudly in the next 42, a8, 72 going to be ringing even more loudly in the next a2, a8, 72 hours, i suspect. chris, i hope you will stay with us because we are waiting for

the pie minister and we will go straight to that when the prime minister appears. but i just straight to that when the prime minister appears. but ijust want straight to that when the prime minister appears. but i just want to bring in barbara who works for deutsche welle. we hear a lot from her on the bbc. just tell us what you make of what we have been hearing. there were of course different interest in the room, the french president wanted backs a date to be as far away from the european elections as possible because he did not want to stir up his own nationalist light. angela merkel, the only thing she wants is an orderly backseat, she does not care about the date, whatever date is fine with her but she wants to get it done. —— nationalist right. there are a lot of concerns, how do we solve the solution and what we do about conditionality? the point was that the eu had sought to build itself a truck, they had put the conditionality down with regard to the extension and then said ok, next week, you have to push this deal the parliament, otherwise there is not going to be an extension. so we were thinking that is going to be a cliff

edge brexit next friday, what are they doing there? i mean what sort of strategy is that? and so they took that back. right, 0k. one of took that back. right, ok. one of the european teams, i did not mention which team it was, chatham house rules, they felt and they do not know whether the prime minister is bluffing but they felt in the financial times reporting tonight, that the prime minister is reconciled to no deal, it seemed accurate from what she was telling in the room. what is the german camp saying? they always been very cautious with that because they always say you know, what happens in the room stays in the room but of course, the feeling is that she did not present a plan b, she simply did not present a plan b, she simply did not come up with anything, she did not come up with anything, she did not answer any of the questions, and the questions that we have put to her over the questions that we have put to heroverand overagain, the questions that we have put to her over and over again, and the questions that we have put to her overand overagain, and our prime minister... is what happens if it is not your deal. exactly, what

happens if you do not pass your deal? she would not answer that, so thatis deal? she would not answer that, so that is an indication for her sort of giving up in that sense and saying 0k, of giving up in that sense and saying ok, if the deal is not pushed through, if i cannot manage, which she must do, then yeah. the source to me said it was almost a hands on the air moment, whatever. yeah, in that sense. if it goes wrong again, it goes wrong and we're all in god's hands, on high seeds, that kind of feeling. —— on the high seas. hands, on high seeds, that kind of feeling. -- on the high seas. of course, they might have to come back next week if they can't get the legislation to shift the date that they do not want to come back again next week and that is why they have put these two dates in the conclusion. they put these two dates,itis conclusion. they put these two dates, it is actually quite smart because... there she is, let'sjust listen in, sorry to interrupt you. good morning. i havejust met with donald tusk following the eu council's discussion on the uk's request for the approval of the

strasberg supplementary documents and fora strasberg supplementary documents and for a short extension to the article 50 process. firstly, i welcome the council's approval of the legally binding assurances in relation to the northern ireland backstop, which i negotiated with residentjean—claude juncker last week. this should give extra issuance to parliament that in the unlikely event that the backstop is ever used, it will only be temporary and that the uk and eu will begin work immediately to replace the backstop with alternative arrangements by the end of december 2020. after lengthy discussion, the council today also agreed, subject toa council today also agreed, subject to a successful vote next week, that in order to provide time for the uk parliament to agree and ratify a brexit deal, the date of our departure will now be extended to the 22nd of may. if parliament does not agree a deal next week, the eu council will extend article 50 into the 12th of april. at this point, we would either leave with no deal or put forward an alternative plan. if

this involved a further extension, it would mean participation in european parliamentary elections. as i have said previously, i believe strongly that it would be wrong to ask people in the uk to participate in these elections fears of dividing to leave the eu. while the decision today —— what the decision today underlines is important at the house of commons passing a brexit deal next week so that we can bring an end to the uncertainty and a smooth and orderly manner, tomorrow morning i will be returning to the uk and working hard to build support getting the deal to. —— through. i know mps on all sides of the debate had passionate views and i respect those positions. last night, i express my frustration and i know that mps are frustrated too. they have difficult jobs that mps are frustrated too. they have difficultjobs to do. i hope we can all agree we are now at the moment of decision, and i will make every effort to ensure that we are

able to leave with a deal and move our country forward. thank you. laura. thank you very much, prime minister, bbc news. doesn't this delay just postpone minister, bbc news. doesn't this delayjust postpone the dilemma you still find yourself in? what is it that makes you think you have a chance of passing your vote next week and can you confirm you will definitely hold the third meaningful vote next week? and i know you have expressed what appears to be some agreement from how the remarks he made last night about mps... do you think actually should apologise for the remark about what parliament has done? festival, as i said, in relation to members of parliament, they are passionately held views on all sides of this argument, and yes, asi all sides of this argument, and yes, as i said last night, i expressed frustration and i know mps are very

frustrated too. —— festival. i'm very grateful to those who have supported the deal, to those who have come around to supporting the deal having not previously done so, and to all those mps who had been meeting across the house and talking to about the issues that they are can learn about in relation to this deal, but i think what this decision tonight does is show clear choice thatis tonight does is show clear choice that is available, opened mps. getting the deal through next week ina getting the deal through next week in a meaningful vote means that we can have that extension to the 22nd of may, get a legislation through, deliver on the referendum, leave the european union and do it in an orderly manner. not getting that vote through means that we will, obviously as the council has said, come back to the council before the 12th of april with a plan for the way forward, but that is, if it involves that further extension, would mean candidates being stood in the european parliamentary elections. i think the choice is clear for people.

elections. i think the choice is clearfor people. james. elections. i think the choice is clear for people. james. donald tusk listed for options. deal, no deal, extend or river. we know that your first choice is deal. —— revoked. to help us understand your thinking could you rank in order of preference those other three choices. it is no deal your second choice? i am working to ensure we can leave the european union with a deal. you mentioned a fourth choice of revoking article 50. i do not believe we should be revoking article 50, not something we should be doing for this reason, we gave the choice as to whether to stay in the choice as to whether to stay in the european union or leave to the british people, they voted in 2016, they voted to leave, the government at the time said, we would honour and respect the decision and at the last general election, 80% of the

votes were cast for members of parliament who stood on a manifesto to honour that decision in respect of the referendum on the time is now to deliver for the british of the referendum on the time is now to deliverfor the british people, the time is to make a decision. faisal. can you confirm what will happen if your deal, i know you wa nted happen if your deal, i know you wanted to pass, but if it doesn't... i'm glad you got the message. wanted to pass, but if it doesn't... i'm glad you got the messagem wanted to pass, but if it doesn't... i'm glad you got the message. if the deal doesn't passed next week, you will bring forward the dates and also hold the promised sequence of indicative vote is so different plan from the house of commons will come about all the revealed ?|j from the house of commons will come about all the revealed? i stand by the commitments we've made both in terms of the legislative commitment for the motion from the house of commons and the commitments that the chancellor of lancaster is made in the house of commons. the decision taken by the european union council and obviously to which we've agreed does mean there is now the different

date of the 12th of april. i believe this is important and it gives us the opportunity, mps next week, to look at the choices that clearly face them. we can leave with a deal in an orderly manner, have that extension to the 22nd of may or if we don't get that deal through, that vote through, then before the 12th of april, we have to come through with another plan and if that plan means a further extension, it means standing in those european parliamentary elections. tom. thank you, prime minister. you said to the house of commons on wednesday that if your deal is not passed, and i quote, the house will have to decide how to proceed, can you confirm if the house decides to proceed with the house decides to proceed with the long delay or a softer brexit or a customs union, you will then enact that? i was very clear we need to work with the house to decide how to proceed. if we don't get the deal

through this week. what to my‘s decision has done is very clearly frame for people the choices that will be available to them. i continue to believe that the best route to the united kingdom is to honour the referendum result, to do it in an orderly manner. —— for the united kingdom. the option is that the members of parliament. it's important we do see that vote going through and we are able to leave and that orderly way. the daily mail. are we ever going to leave the eu? we've got a whole lot of new dates you. yesterday you seemed to be suggesting that you would never sanction a longer delay, now you are talking about it. will you ever sanction a longer delay or is this a red line for you? is this it? the a nswer to red line for you? is this it? the answer to your first question is yes, we will be leaving the european

union andi yes, we will be leaving the european union and i fervently believe that it is the duty of parliament to deliver on that result of the referendum. i also believe it is better for the uk if referendum. i also believe it is betterfor the uk if we can do referendum. i also believe it is better for the uk if we can do that with a negotiated deal, do that in an orderly and smooth manner. that's what to my‘s decision enables us to do but it's important we recognise, that we are now at that moment of decision. i will take a couple more. is andy here from pa? andy woodcock from pa. the press association. there is a position —— petition on the parliamentary website which has gained more than 2 million signatures asking you to revoke article 50. are you confident it is still the will of the british people to leave the european union or is any chance opinion has shifted since 2016? if you look back to what happened in the referendum, we saw

the biggest democratic exercise in our history, many people who'd either never voted before or not voted for many years turning out to voted for many years turning out to vote in that referendum and that was a clear result that we should leave the european union. i think it's important if we want to show that we can be trusted as politicians, to respect a decision that we gave to the people, we didn't say, tell us what you think and we will think about it. we said, he is the vote, what is your decision. i believe it is our duty as a government, as a parliament, to deliver on that vote. the final question i will take. is there somebody here from deutsche welle. deutsche welle, german broadcaster. you put some of the blame about the situation that the uk is in on the house of commons yesterday. do you put some of the blame on yourself as well and would

you do things differently, especially dealing with the eu, given the fact that today again, you did not get what you wanted because you want the extension until the 30th of june you want the extension until the 30th ofjune and that's not what you got. throughout these negotiations, they have been tough. both sides of had their interests and promoting their interests. i believe any negotiation involves a degree of compromise. we have got a good deal on the table. that's why continue to promote that deal. and also, if we look at what has happened tonight, there is always tension in terms of there is always tension in terms of the dates between the various legal risks around the european parliamentary elections and i recognise that it was fair but what we now have in terms of the council ‘s decision is a very clear framework in which mps can operate. they know what the choices are that if now is the moment of decision, if we get a boat through this week, we can leave on the 22nd of may with

that deal. —— our vote. if we don't get votes through next week, we will have to propose a different way forward to the european union and if that involves an extension, they would say that we should hold those european parliament elections. i don't believe it is right to do that three years on from people having voted to leave the eu. they would rightly question why it was that they were then being asked to elect people to part of an organisation they had already voted to leave. thank you. the prime minister at the end of a very long day here in brussels. she does have her extension but denied she is saying, it is now the moment of decision. everybody can agree with that. it's going to be a very busy weekend because most people would say, when you look at the numbers in westminster, there is no majority for her deal. let's pick up with

chris mason in westminster. chris, i'm looking at that list. deal, no deal, extend and revoke. she obviously wants a deal, she will not revoke. it doesn't sound like she wa nts to revoke. it doesn't sound like she wants to extend but she doesn't want to be in the european elections which me —— which leaves and deal or no deal. it does. framing heri commence around wanting to put her deal forward commence around wanting to put her dealforward or the prospect of commence around wanting to put her deal forward or the prospect of the uk either leaving without a deal or certainly not leaving in a situation where she is still prime minister. she linked to getting a deal and getting out with how long she might stay in office. it is worth repeating these key dates. step back and look at the result of these news conferences in the last 30 minutes. the european council summit concluded there is an extension until the 22nd of may if the prime

minister can get her deal through the commons next week for an extension until the 12th of april, about two weeks on the end of next week, if she