European leaders agree to extend Brexit till January 31
European Union leaders have agreed in principle to extend Brexit until 31 January 2020 - meaning the Unitd Kingdom will not leave as planned this Thursday.
EU Council President Donald Tusk said it was a "flextension" - meaning the UK could leave before the deadline if a deal was approved by Parliament.
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It came as Members of Parliament (MPs) prepared to vote on proposals by Boris Johnson for an early general election on 12 December.
The Scottish National Party (SNP) and Liberal Democrats have also proposed an election on December 9.
A No 10 source said the government would introduce a bill "almost identical" to the Lib Dem/SNP option on Tuesday if Labour voted their plan down later, and "we will have a pre-Christmas election anyway".
The UK was due to leave the EU on Thursday, but Mr Johnson was required to request an extension after Parliament failed to agree a Brexit deal.
The prime minister had repeatedly said the UK would leave on October 31 deadline with or without a deal, but the law - known as the Benn Act - requires him to accept the EU's extension offer.
Mr Johnson is trying to persuade MPs to agree to a new timetable for his Brexit deal legislation and an election on Thursday 12 December.
The Liberal Democrats/SNP plan does not include a new timetable for his legislation - the Withdrawal Agreement Bill.
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They want the 9 December because it would not leave enough time for the bill to become law before Parliament is dissolved - which must happen a minimum of 25 working days before an election.
The BBC's political desk, said it was not clear whether the government would stick to December 9, which is a Monday, but the move implied ministers would "give up an attempt to get the bill through".