DELAYING leaving the EU by six months has been branded a "terrible disappointment".

Harwich and North Essex MP Sir Bernard Jenkin said the Prime Minister Theresa May has lost authority and is "out of step" with the Conservative Party and predicts a new MP will be in place this summer.

It comes after European Union leaders granted the UK a six-month extension to Brexit this week - the new deadline is now October 31.

The country had faced leaving without a deal this Friday.

Sir Bernard Jenkin said: "The Prime Minister could have just said we are just leaving but she is very wedding to her deal, which remains unacceptable to the House of Commons.

"I think she has run out of authority.

"I don't think Theresa May will be Prime Minister in October, I think the Conservative Party will have a new leader.

"I think a new Conservative leader would change everything and that will probably happen this summer."

The UK must now hold European elections in May, or leave on 1 June without a deal.