After much speculation, a furious Cabinet and the threat of another backbench rebellion, No. 10 has finally confirmed what type of Article 50 extension Theresa May will seek at Thursday’s EU council summit. Downing Street has said May will not ask for a long delay. Instead, the Prime Minister will seek a brief extension of a couple of months. The source added that May shares the public’s ‘frustration’ at the failure by Parliament to ‘take a decision’.
May’s decision comes after her position looked increasingly under threat were she to seek a long extension – potentially of up to two years. At Cabinet on Tuesday, ministers made clear their displeasure at such a plan. Andrea Leadsom accused the Cabinet of abandoning its promise to deliver Brexit – and instead now being a Cabinet of Remain. In that meeting, May refused to divulge where she sat on the matter but attendees left with the distinct impression she would see resignations if she tried to secure a long extension.
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