London: European leaders have agreed to the UK’s request to delay Brexit until January 31 – though it could happen earlier if the agreed divorce deal is ratified by Britain’s Parliament.

The Brexit delay comes after UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was forced by Parliament earlier in October to send a letter requesting the delay, as an insurance policy against a no-deal Brexit.

Donald Tusk, president of the European Council of EU national leaders, announced on Monday that they had agreed to accept the request, with just three days left before the UK had been due to crash out of the EU with no formal withdrawal treaty.

According to a draft statement circulated among EU leaders, if a Brexit divorce deal is ratified by UK and European parliaments then Brexit will come into effect on the first day of the following month.