After two rounds of talks with the Leader of the Opposition aimed at finding a way to break the Brexit logjam, Theresa May has written a letter to EU Council president Donald Tusk on her next steps forward. In it, the Prime Minister expresses regret that the House is yet to approve a Brexit deal. On the prospect of leaving the EU without a deal, May says that the House has repeatedly expressed its opposition to a no deal Brexit and the government ‘agrees that leaving with a deal is the best outcome’. It is for this reason that May goes on to request a second Article 50 extension – this time until June 30.
The Prime Minister says the government accepts the EU’s demand that the UK would need to take part in European elections if still a member on May 23. However, she presses the point that the UK would want to be able to exit earlier than 30 June if a deal can be ratified before then and therefore hopefully avoid European elections. May says she hopes to be able to go into more detail at next week’s EU council meeting. As for her progress on passing a deal, May says that if her talks with Corbyn don’t lead to a clear consensus, the government could hold a series of votes on a small number of options on the future relationship.
So, what will Brussels say? It’s unlikely to be an enthusiastic yes. Donald Tusk has already said that Brussels is not interested in granting another short extension – instead recommending an extension to March 2020 with an option to exit early if the deal is passed before. EU leaders don’t want to have to keep having Article 50 meetings every month or so if May still can’t pass her deal. Theresa May knows this but with ministers threatening to quit if she goes for a long extension, today’s request is more focussed on buying herself time with her Cabinet and party than hitting the right notes with the EU.
Comments