European Union leaders meet in Brussels to give Theresa May an offer to delay Brexit beyond March 29, on condition that she can finally win over her many opponents in parliament next week.

Speaking from Downing Street, the Prime Minister yesterday told the public she is “on their side”, laying the blame for the delay to Brexit squarely with MPs, saying it was “high time” politicians made a decision on the next steps.

Meanwhile, Britain’s manufacturers are in despair at the failure of politicians to end the Brexit impasse, according to the CBI, which reported a drop in output in March as businesses cut back production.

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Veronique Laury, CEO of struggling DIY group Kingfisher, which owns B&Q and Screwfix, is to step down amid worsening profits, although no date has be given yet for her departure.