Brexit: Senior Conservative admits UK's departure from EU could be delayed as government inches towards Article 50 extension'

'I would only countenance a delay if we already had a deal agreed'

The most senior Conservative backbencher has said he could accept a short delay to Britain's departure from the EU to get key Brexit legislation through parliament.

Sir Graham Brady, who chairs the influential 1922 Committee, became latest top Tory to acknowledge Britain may not be ready to leave the bloc on March 29, after Jeremy Hunt, the foreign secretary, admitted the government could need "extra time".

MPs have tasked Theresa May to return to Brussels to renegotiate a critical part of her Brexit deal after her plan was overwhelmingly defeated in the Commons last month.

But the prime minister faces an uphill battle to win over the EU, as Ireland's Europe minister Helen McEntee insisted that the bloc would "absolutely not" reopen the withdrawal agreement.

"I would only countenance a delay if we already had a deal agreed, it's just a matter of doing the necessary work to implement it," Sir Graham told the BBC's Political Thinking podcast.

"Once we've reached an agreement and we know the terms on which we're leaving, if we decide that we need another two weeks in order to finish the necessary legislation through parliament, I don't think anybody's going to be too worked up about that, because we will have made a decision."

It comes amid reports that a third of cabinet ministers believe that the two-year article 50 process will need to be extended, despite opposition from hardline Brexiteers.

Sajid Javid, the home secretary, raised concerns with cabinet colleagues that Ms May could run out of time and questioned her decision to publicly state that the UK is leaving the EU on March 29, The Telegraph reported.

Mr Hunt admitted on Thursday that a technical delay could be necessary if a deal is agreed, telling the Today programme: “I think that depends on how long this process takes.

“I think it is true that if we ended up approving a deal in the days before 29 March then we might need some extra time to pass critical legislation. But if we are able to make progress sooner, then that might not be necessary."

He was slapped down by Downing Street shortly afterwards, with Ms May's spokesman reiterating her commitment to leaving on 29 March.

Ms McEntee said the EU was likely to approve a request to delay Brexit but she insisted that the prime minister would have to be clear on her goals.

But she added: "At the same time, I think there would be a very clear ask from the other member states as to what exactly it is we are trying to achieve.

"There is no point in looking for an extension if we end up back to the same place in three months' time.

"We need to have a clear direction from the UK government as to what it is we want to achieve."

Dublin would "absolutely not" accept the reopening of the withdrawal agreement, Ms McEntee added.