Theresa May’s announcement of a series of votes to come in March has made a full, so-called ‘no-deal’ Brexit a near impossibility and Parliament voting to cancel Brexit day an almost certainty, but European leaders speaking Wednesday say they will only permit a deviation from the agreed schedule if it means the United Kingdom bringing something new to the table.
France’s Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Angela Merkel met in Paris Wednesday to discuss topics including Franco-German defence and Brexit, both leaving the meeting and remarking in a press conference that followed that they would be willing to permit the British establishment to further delay Brexit.
Macron was the most demanding, remarking after their meeting: “If the British need more time, we would support an extension request if it was justified by new choices from the British.
“But we would in no way accept an extension without a clear view on the objective pursued… As our negotiator Michel Barnier said, we don’t need more time, we need decisions.”
Given British attempts to achieve change to the present agreement struck between Theresa May and the European Union have been forcefully and even contemptuously rejected, it is not exactly clear what changes except those that would offer further concessions to Europe President Macron could have in mind.
Germany’s Angela Merkel said she was “totally on the same line” in this matter to Macron, Reuters reports, and said: “If Britain needs some more time, we won’t refuse but we are striving for an orderly solution.”
The wire service also reports French diplomats said the nation could only support the Brexit delay British Members of Parliament are likely to vote for if it came with a “credible solution” to the ongoing indecision among the Westminster political elite about how to deal with the withdrawal from the European Union that the British people voted for in 2016. Examples of these solutions, it is claimed, include a snap general election, a second referendum, or “a new plan that was acceptable to all sides.”
Eurofanatic and Brexit antagonist Guy Verhofstadt also chimed in on the matter Wednesday, writing: “If the UK Parliament rejects her deal, Theresa May would like to extend the negotiating period. In my firm opinion, if this happens, this can never be longer than a couple of months so that a cross-party majority can be found. But certainly not 21 months!
“The Union has been taken hostage by the Brexit already for too long. The UK has had almost two years to make up its mind, now it is time to decide: A deal, no deal or stay. For the Union it is high time that we can spend our energy on more positive projects and the in depth reforms Europe desperately needs.”
While political leaders in the United Kingdom insist the Brexit extension would likely be limited to a couple of weeks — at least in part to prevent giving the impression that Brexit is being delayed indefinitely from the legally established March 29th date — as Nigel Farage points out, this extension would be a complete waste of time.
Noting that the European Union’s parliament will effectively close down in April as members of the European Parliament return to their home nations to campaign for Europe-wide elections in May, Brexit leader Farage stated Wednesday simply that “there would be no-one to negotiate with during this period.”
Likening violating the legal Brexit date to opening a political Pandora’s Box, Mr Farage said: “If we extend once, we will extend again and again.
“Voters’ fury in this scenario should be not underestimated.”
Other key Brexiteers have also warned against delaying Brexit. Speaking after Theresa May announced the new plan to hold a series of votes throughout mid-March, which theoretically give the option for Britain to fully leave the European Union but down to the consistency of Parliament would never see that outcome, Jacob Rees-Mogg said attempts to delay were a “plot”.
He is reported as saying: “If it is being delayed, which is my suspicion, as a plot to stop Brexit altogether, then I think that would be the most grievous error that politicians could commit.
“It would be overthrowing a referendum result, two general election results, one to call for a referendum, one to endorse the referendum. And it would undermine our democracy.”
The United Kingdom is due to leave the European Union in 30 days.
Oliver JJ Lane is the editor of Breitbart London — Follow him on Twitter and Facebook
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.