Government to continue planning for the possibility of a no-deal Brexit

Theresa May is not thinking about calling an early national election.

British Prime Minister Theresa May has said the government will continue to plan for the possibility of a no-deal Brexit, her spokesman said on Monday.

May made the comment in an internal note to staff.

The European Union last week delayed Brexit until the end of October, averting, for now at least, the risk of an abrupt British departure from the bloc which investors fear would hurt the economy.

May’s spokesman also told reporters on Monday that the prime minister was not thinking about calling an early national election as a way to break the Brexit impasse in parliament.

The embattled Prime Minister, whose deal has been rejected by MPs three times, also uses the message to make clear that she will "do everything we can to get agreement through Parliament so that we can leave the EU as soon as possible", after EU leaders handed her an Article 50 extension that could run up until 31 October if no agreement is passed.

May has held a round of talks with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to try and thrash out a compromise deal, and said last week that she would continue to try and get a deal through Parliament by 22 May in a bid to avoid the UK having to take part in European Parliament elections.

She told officials in the latest message: "I agreed with fellow EU leaders last week to extend the Article 50 period, but while we have an extension until the end of October, that does not mean we should use it. So as a government we will continue to do everything we can to get agreement through Parliament so that we can leave the EU as soon as possible.

"That means continuing our talks with the Opposition and working to seek a way forward so we can get the support of Parliament for a deal on the basis of the Withdrawal Agreement."

The Prime Minister also uses the email to heap praise on the civil service, which has been a frequent target of criticism from Brexiteers since the 2016 vote.

British Prime Minister Theresa May has said the government will continue to plan for the possibility of a no-deal Brexit, her spokesman said on Monday.

May made the comment in an internal note to staff.

The European Union last week delayed Brexit until the end of October, averting, for now at least, the risk of an abrupt British departure from the bloc which investors fear would hurt the economy.

May’s spokesman also told reporters on Monday that the prime minister was not thinking about calling an early national election as a way to break the Brexit impasse in parliament.