Prime Minister Boris Johnson 'to seek Brexit delay if no deal reached'

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he will send a letter asking the EU to delay Brexit if a deal is not reached by October 19th.

Government documents read out at Scotland's Court of Session today (Friday) confirmed that Mr Johnson will comply with the Benn Act, which commits him to asking for an extension if a deal cannot be reached effectively blocking a no deal Brexit on October 31st.

Until now, Mr Johnson has seemed adamant that the UK will leave the EU at the end of the month, having previously said he would rather be "dead in a ditch" than ask for a delay.

Downing Street refused to comment after the documents, submitted on behalf of Mr Johnson, were read out during the case.

Mr Johnson had said in public that "we will obey the law, and will come out on October 31" in any event, without specifying how he would achieve it.

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His seemingly contradictory aims fuelled speculation that he had identified a loophole to get around the Benn Act.

The legal action - led by businessman Vince Dale, SNP MP Joanna Cherry QC and Jolyon Maugham QC - is asking the court to require Mr Johnson to seek an extension to avoid leaving the EU without a deal.

Mr Maugham told Sky News: "What we learned today is that the Prime Minister has promised the court, in his own name, that he will ask for an extension under the Benn Act if the conditions are satisfied, in other words if Parliament has not before October 19 agreed a withdrawal agreement.

"He's also promised the court that he will not frustrate the Benn Act by which is meant that he will not send two letters, one saying 'can I have an extension', the other saying 'please don't give me one', he won't collude with foreign governments to attempt to persuade those foreign governments to veto an extension."

The prime minister outlined new plans to replace the Irish backstop earlier this week but senior figures in Europe dubbed his "two borders" customs suggestion "unconvincing".

Mr Johnson is expected to continue his efforts today and over the weekend to convince Brussels to show flexibility on his submitted plans.