Theresa May is writing to the EU to ask for Brexit to be postponed until 30 June with the option of a longer delay, cabinet sources say.
One minister told the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg there was “no agreement” around the cabinet table.
Another source expressed frustration that the prime minister did not make a clear indication of the option she would actually argue for.
Under current law the UK will leave the EU with or without a deal in 10 days.
The prime minister says the UK will need a short extension to get the necessary legislation through Parliament, if MPs back her withdrawal deal.
She has warned Brexiteer Tories a longer extension will be needed if the deal does not get through Parliament – but any delay will have to be agreed by all 27 EU member states.
One cabinet source said the longer delay could be up to two years, but Downing Street sources said there was no final decision at cabinet on the length of an extension and a date had not been set.
Mrs May is heading to Brussels on Thursday to discuss the delay options with EU leaders.
Commons leader Andrea Leadsom is said to have criticised her cabinet colleagues, saying it is now a “Remain cabinet”, not a “Brexit Cabinet”, Laura Kuenssberg said.
