Brexit delay "great personal regret for me", British PM says

LONDON, March 20 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday said that the proposed Brexit delay is "a matter of great personal regret for me", adding that it is "high time" for MPs to make a decision on her Brexit deal.

The prime minister, in a live televised speech from Downing Street after her Brexit delay request, told the British people nationwide that "I am on your side".

"This delay is a matter of great personal regret for me. It is high time we made a decision" over Brexit, May said, passionately asking MPs to back her Brexit deal, which was rejected twice in the parliament since January.

Meanwhile, the prime minister criticized hostile MPs for blocking the agreement on Brexit in the parliament, which leads to the Brexit delay.

MPs have been "unable to agree on the way to implement the UK's withdrawal", she said. "As a result, we will now not leave (the EU) on time on the 29th of March."

Earlier Wednesday, May wrote to European Council President Donald Tusk for a delay to the Brexit process to June 30, saying that she needs more time to get her withdrawal agreement passed by the House of Commons.

In response, Tusk said that a short Brexit delay is possible only if MPs back May's Brexit deal.

Britain hopes to get a short delay from the European Union (EU) while the regional bloc wishes London would agree to a longer extension of Article 50.

The prime minister said that she was not prepared for the EU divorce beyond June 30. "I'm not prepared to delay Brexit any further," she said.

Any Brexit delay requires a unanimous approval from remaining 27 EU countries.

May will meet with EU leaders on Thursday when she is in Brussels for a summit.