British PM calls for further extension to Article 50

File photo of British Prime Minister Theresa May. [Xinhua]

British Prime Minister Theresa May announced Tuesday night that Britain needs a further extension of Article 50, one that is "as short as possible" in order to ensure Britain to leave the European Union with a deal.

She also said she wants to sit down with the leader of the main opposition Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, to see if they can come up with a plan to break what she described as a logjam.

May said she hopes the British Parliament will still agree on a deal with Brussels by May 22, adding that leaving the EU with a deal remains the best solution.

She said if she and Corbyn cannot agree on a unified approach, a series of options for the future relationship would be put to the House of Commons in a series of votes. May said the government would abide by the decision of the Commons, but only if Labour did so too.

"This is a decisive moment in the story of these islands and it requires national unity to deliver the national interests," said May.

The announcement followed a seven-hour long marathon meeting of senior ministers at a Downing Street Cabinet meeting.

Throughout the day political commentators had been speculating on what was being discussed by May and her team of government ministers.

Cabinet members themselves are deeply split over Brexit and how it should be resolved is a great reflection of a deep divide over the country.