Why is Theresa May seeking a short Brexit delay that the EU is likely to reject?

Brexit Explained: The prime minister’s request was made with her ministers – and her party’s future – in mind rather than Brussels

Theresa May surprised many people this week, including some of her own MPs, by asking the European Union to delay Brexit only until 30 June.

It had been expected that the prime minister would seek a longer delay to give parliament time to find a solution to the crisis.

Instead, she wrote to Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, on Friday requesting only two-and-a-half months more than the 12 April deadline to break the deadlock in parliament after MPs rejected her proposed withdrawal agreement three times.