The Brussels bloc is expected to delay Brexit until February 2020 if Boris Johnson is unable to get his deal through the House of Commons this week. According to The Times, diplomatic sources quoted by the newspaper have said a deal would be “fungible”, so if the Prime Minister’s deal passes earlier – the UK could be able to leave the EU before the extension ends.

A decision on granting the Brexit extension is not expected to be made until the chances of the Prime Minister getting his deal through the Commons this week have been assessed.

European ambassadors met this morning to discuss Brexit in a meeting that lasted just 15 minutes and did not discuss any possible future delay.

It comes just after the Prime Minister’s Brexit plan was halted on Saturday after MPs backed an amendment, withholding Commons approval of Mr Johnson’s deal until the necessary UK legislation to leave the EU has been passed.

Mr Johnson could yet hold a so-called “meaningful vote” on its Brexit agreement on Monday if House of Commons Speaker John Bercow allows it.

The Speaker of the House, John Bercow, said he would rule whether that would be allowed after several MPs said it would break with parliamentary convention that the same question cannot be put twice during the same session.

Mr Johnson told parliament that “next week the government will introduce the legislation needed for us to leave the EU with our new deal on October 31”.

During the historic Saturday sitting in the House of Commons, MPs passed an amendment, withholding Commons approval of Mr Johnson’s deal until the necessary UK legislation to leave the EU has been passed.

Despite the setback for the Prime Minister, Michael Gove has insisted the UK will still leave the European Union by the end of this month.

Michael Gove told Sophy Ridge: “We are going to leave by October 31, we have the means and the ability to do so.

“That letter was sent because parliament required it to be sent…but parliament can’t change the prime minister’s mind, parliament can’t change the government’s policy or determination.”

Mr Gove added preparations for Operation Yellowhammer were now entering the next stage, as the risk of no deal had increased due to the vote.

Mr Johnson stressed to Brussels in his letter he was only sending it at Parliament’s bidding. He got a senior diplomat to send an unsigned photocopy of a letter asking for an extension.

In a second note to European Council president Donald Tusk, the Prime Minister said the delay requested would be “deeply corrosive”. The third letter added Mr Johnson did not want an extension.

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