EU Commission leadership candidate ready to delay Brexit

Brussels: Ursula von der Leyen, a candidate to be the next president of the European Commission, said on Tuesday she stands ready to extend of Britain's departure from the EU should more time be required for a good reason.

Britain is now slated to leave the bloc on Oct. 31, which is already a significant delay from the original withdrawal date.

The British government reached a deal with Brussels, but the deal has been defeated in the parliament, creating strong uncertainties.

Prime Minister Theresa May will step down soon, and Boris Johnson, contender for the position, has pledged to take Britain out of the EU with or without a deal on Oct. 31.

"I stand ready for a further extension of the withdrawal date should more time be required," von der Leyen told the European Parliament.

"In any case the UK will remain our ally, our partner and our friend," she added.

Earlier in July, von der Leyen was nominated by the leaders of the EU member states to replace the current president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker.