The UK is likely to delay Brexit and not leave the European Union (EU) in March, former EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told Sky News on Tuesday. He also added the bloc would likely accept a request to an extension to set the details of withdrawal.

“I think the most likely scenario is not to do that in March of this year. We need more... preparations,” Barroso said when asked when if he thought Brexit would happen as currently scheduled on March 29.

“Even if there was a positive deal now, from a practical point of view, it’s obvious that everything is not ready. So I think the right thing to do is to have some extension, and I believe that if the UK demands an extension of Article 50, European Union countries will naturally accept it."