UK PM Insists Not To 'Negotiate' A Brexit Extension With The EU After Parliamentary Votes

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday revealed that he will tell the European Union (EU) leaders not to delay Brexit and will refuse to negotiate an extension - after MPs passed up the opportunity for a fourth time to vote for a deal.

The Commons voted 322 to 306 in favour of an amendment postponing a decision on the PM's deal, and activating the Benn Act - a Remainer law that compels him to send a letter by midnight asking Brussels for a delay.
But Johnson was defiant in the Commons, sparking confusion over whether he will comply with the legislation or try to find a loophole to keep his 'do or die' promise to sever ties by October 31.
And in a letter to MPs he characterised the Benn Act as 'Parliament's request for a delay' as European Union Council president Donald Tusk tweeted tonight that he was still waiting for the letter to arrive.
Responding to the result, he defiantly insisted he would not change his stance. 'The best thing for the UK and for the whole of Europe is for us to leave with this new deal on October 31,' he said.
'I will not negotiate a delay with the EU and neither does the law compel me to do so.'
'No delays, and I will continue to do all I can to get Brexit done on October 31.'
In his letter, sent on Saturday night, he said: 'I will not negotiate a delay with the European Union. I will tell the EU what I have told the British public for my 88 days as Prime Minister: further delay is not a solution.'
In a bid to distance himself from the decision to ask for a Brexit extension, he added: 'It is quite possible that our friends in the European Union will reject Parliament's request for a further delay (or not take a decision quickly).'
The Conservative Party also tweeted: 'Parliament has voted to delay Brexit again. The Prime Minister will not ask for a delay - he will tell EU leaders there should be no more delays and we should get Brexit done on October 31st with our new deal so the country can move on.'
Despite this, it is understood the Prime Minister has confirmed to European Council president Donald Tusk that he will be writing to him on Saturday night to seek a Brexit delay, according to the Press Association.
Sir Oliver Letwin's amendment that scuppered his deal was backed by Labour MPs and ten former Tory rebels including Philip Hammond and David Gauke.
Johnson said his deal is not dead and he is expected to bring forward implementation legislation on Tuesday.
He swiped: 'The meaningful vote has been voided of meaning.'
But during angry scenes in the chamber, Jeremy Corbyn demanded the PM 'obeys the law' and asked the EU for an extension.
Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson urged Speaker John Bercow to suspend the sitting so the PM could go and write the letter, and return to inform them it can be sent.
Downing Street flatly refused to say whether the PM would be penning the letter to Brussels, merely pointing reporters to the PM's words in the House. But a tweet put out by the Conservative Party went further and stated that Johnson 'will not ask for a delay'.
There is also confusion over whether the government will try to re-run the 'meaningful' vote on the deal on Monday. Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg announced the move in the aftermath of the showdown this afternoon, but Speaker John Bercow complained he had been 'blindsided' and suggested he might rule it out of order.
A spokeswoman for the European Commission said it 'took note' of the outcome this afternoon and was waiting for the UK to set out the 'next steps'.
And Irish PM Leo Varadkar delivered another thinly-veiled warning that no-one should assume the EU will allow an extension.
'To date, no request for an extension has been made by the UK government,' he tweeted.
'Should that happen, President Tusk will consult all 27 Heads of State & Govt on whether or not we will grant one. Extension can only be granted by unanimity.'
The government was condemned to defeat when 10 former Tories teamed up with Labour, the Lib Dems, the SNP, the DUP and a rag-tag bag of independents. But in a boost for Johnson, no current Conservative MPs rebelled.
The breakdown of the voting also underlined how close Johnson is to putting together a majority for his deal in the House, with many of those who backed Letwin also saying they will support the deal when it comes to the crunch.
Tory whips had admitted beforehand that they were not hopeful of seeing off the Letwin amendment - which he insisted was only intended to stave off the threat of No Deal.
Johnson held last-ditch meetings with the DUP, who have accused him of betrayal for striking a deal that undermines the union, as he pleaded with them to come to the rescue. But the overtures did not go down well, as the PM's former allies wreaked revenge for being thrown under the bus. 'They are not in a positive place,' one government source said ruefully.