Brexit could delay Queen's speech as time runs out for bill

The UK Government looks set to delay the next Queen's Speech as the impasse over the country's Brexit crisis continues.

With cross-party talks on the EU Withdrawal Agreement showing little sign of progress, Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman indicated that the parliamentary session could be extended until the House of Commons has ratified a Brexit deal.

This would mean the parliamentary set-piece outlining the Government's legislative agenda being postponed from the expected date in June to as late as the autumn.

Meanwhile, UK Government hopes of avoiding elections to the European Parliament on May 23 appear to have evaporated, with the bill to ratify a Brexit deal no longer expected to be put before Parliament this week.

May's effective deputy David Lidington and Chancellor Philip Hammond led the Government side in talks with an opposition Labour team including shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer and shadow chancellor John McDonnell.

Meanwhile, 22 Labour candidates in the European elections have pledged to campaign for a referendum and then back efforts to remain in the EU.

But senior Conservatives have been hoping the Euro-elections can be avoided if a compromise deal can get through Parliament before polling day, allowing the contest to be cancelled.

They fear the May 23 ballot could result in a mauling for May if she has not been able to deliver the Brexit that Britons voted for almost three years ago.

But parliamentary time is running perilously short for the passage of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill through both Houses of Parliament, as well as a successful "meaningful vote" on the deal.

"What we are focused on is the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, because that is the legislation which is necessary in order to ratify our withdrawal from the EU," Mrs May's spokesman said.

"That is part of the current Queen's Speech cycle and we need to finish that work."

The Queen's Speech is normally an annual event, but a two-year session was announced in June 2017 in order to allow time for complex Brexit legislation to pass through Parliament.