As EU decides on Brexit delay, UK politicians wrangle

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks to staff in the children's ward as he visits Milton Keynes University Hospital in Milton Keynes, England, on Friday Oct. 25, 2019. European Union ambassadors agreed Friday that the bloc should grant Britain’s request for another extension to the Brexit deadline but have not yet figured out how long that delay should be. European Union diplomats are meeting to decide whether to delay Britain’s departure from the bloc, due in just three days. British politicians, meanwhile, are wrangling over what to do with the extra time.

Ambassadors from the 27 other EU countries are meeting Monday to discuss Britain’s request for a three-month postponement to the Oct. 31 Brexit deadline. The bloc has agreed in principle but has not fixed the extension’s length. In London, British politicians are set to vote on whether to hold an early election to try to break the country’s deadlock over Brexit. Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants a Dec. 12 election but looks unlikely to get the required support from two-thirds of lawmakers. Two opposition parties plan to push for a Dec. 9 election if Johnson’s proposal fails.