UK will probably delay Brexit, says former EU chief Jose Manuel Barroso

Britain is likely to delay Brexit because of the lack of a deal, former EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has said.

Mr Barroso, who ran the bloc’s executive from 2004 to 2014, said it would be right for the EU27 to accept any request for an extension.

Theresa May has repeatedly said she would not extend the Article 50 period – which expires on 29 March – and that “no-deal is better than a bad deal”. MPs have however voted in principle

When the date arrives, Britain will crash out of all EU institutions without anything to replace them – with widespread predictions of chaos and economic damage.

“I think the most likely scenario is not to do that in March of this year. We need more... preparations,” Mr Barroso, told Sky News when asked for his view on what would happen.

“Even if there was a positive deal now, from a practical point of view, it’s obvious that everything is not ready.

“So I think the right thing to do is to have some extension, and I believe that if the UK demands an extension of Article 50, European Union countries will naturally accept it.”

The former Portuguese prime minister now works as a non-executive chairman at Goldman Sachs.

Mr Barroso’s successor Jean-Claude Juncker told the German media in an interview this week that an extension of Article 50 would be an option to prevent a no-deal.

But the UK has to ask for such an extension for it to be considered, and the EU has not actively discussed the prospect amongst the 27 remaining national leaders.

The prospect of an extension is complicated by the looming European Parliament (EP) elections. The EP has to sign off any final withdrawal agreement, but the body will dissolve from April ahead of elections in May – and not return to regular sittings until July.

The UK needs the approval of all 27 remaining EU member state governments to extend Article 50, though it can revoke it entirely on its own accord if it chooses to do so.