The official deadline for the UK to leave the EU was October 31, Halloween, 2019.
That was the date set by an early April summit of 27 EU leaders after UK Prime Minister Theresa May requested an extension to June 30.
It shifted the political dynamic as ITV’s Robert Peston reported – leading the prime minister to drop plans to get her withdrawal deal approved by the UK parliament and ultimately forcing her resignation and subsequent leadership contest.
Members of Parliament had already rejected her deal three times and opposition both to her deal and her leadership was reported to have hardened during a two-week Easter break from Parliament.
She continued cross-party talks with the Labour opposition but there was no sign she would get the support she wanted and ultimately Labour pulled out of the talks.
But not before the simple act of finally talking to Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn angered some Conservative MPs and local party groups so much they sought ways to replace Mrs. May.
Mrs. May’s request to the EU summit to delay the Brexit deadline came after Members of Parliament voted narrowly – by a single vote – late on April 1 to approve legislation that would legally require her to request a delay.
The legislation was quickly approved by the upper House of Lords.
Very unusually the legislation was proposed by MPs and not the government, and was passed in a single day.
A majority of MPs opposed leaving the EU without an agreement and a significant number leaving the EU at all.
After a marathon 7-hour cabinet meeting the next day the prime minister said she would seek a further delay and surprisingly invited Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to discuss Brexit plans.
After the first three days of talks Labour was already describing them as “disappointing” and said Mrs. May had not proposed any changes to her Brexit deal.
New Brexit deadline
Changed political dynamic
No sign of support
Labour pulls out
Angry Conservatives
MPs force delay
Corbyn invited to Brexit talks
Labour sees no changes
