Therese May: UK Will Not Leave EU on March 29

By Staff, Agencies

British Prime Minister Theresa May said her country will not leave the European Union on March 29, as originally planned, but said the departure wouldn't be delayed any further than June 30.

"Nearly three years have passed since the public voted to leave the European Union," May said in a Wednesday address to the nation.

"It was the biggest democratic exercise in our country's history. I came to office on a promise to deliver on that verdict. In March 2017, I triggered the Article 50 process for the UK to exit the EU, and Parliament supported it overwhelmingly."

"Two years on, MPs have been unable to agree on a way to implement the UK's withdrawal. As a result, we will now not leave on time with a deal on the 29th of March. This delay is a matter of great personal regret for me. And of this, I am absolutely sure — you the public have had enough," May said.

The United Kingdom was scheduled to leave the EU on March 29, 2019, but the British government's repeated failure to ratify an agreement signed between London and Brussels has left the country on the precipice of a "no-deal" Brexit, without a negotiated political, diplomatic or economic relationship after the end of the month.