E.U. Offers Brexit Extension to Oct. 31
Source: New York Times
BRUSSELS With less than 48 hours before Britains scheduled departure, the European Union extended the exit deadline early Thursday until the end of October, avoiding a devastating cliff-edge divorce but settling none of the issues that have plunged British politics into chaos, dysfunction and recrimination.
On another difficult night of negotiations for Britains prime minister, Theresa May, European leaders scrapped her proposal for a postponement until June 30, concluding that such a short deadline was unrealistic for the departure known as Brexit. However they agreed to review the arrangement at the end of June to prevent British disruption to the bloc while the nation remains in Europes departure lounge.
Writing on Twitter, Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, confirmed that an agreement had been made, but that Mrs. May had yet to accept it.
Link to tweet
Although the intense pressure of recent weeks will probably abate for now, the path ahead still resembles a minefield, dotted with explosive issues like a possible attempt to topple Mrs. May, a general election or a second Brexit referendum or some combination of the three. Most immediately, Mrs. May is likely to face calls to step down, and potential successors are already trying to raise money and advertise their credentials.
Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/10/world/europe/uk-eu-brexit-extension.html
Donald Tusk
✔
@eucopresident
EU27 has agreed an extension of Art. 50. I will now meet PM @theresa_may for the UK government's agreement. #Brexit
2,527
6:45 PM - Apr 10, 2019
comradebillyboy
(10,154 posts)I am beginning to think it will be a hard Brexit.
BumRushDaShow
(129,096 posts)is handling the borders/commerce of Ireland (which is independent and part of the EU and is not factored into Brexit) and N. Ireland (which is part of the UK and would fall out). I.e., there is a desire by the EU members to at least keep the borders between the two (which are obviously on a single island) open regardless of what happens with the rest of the UK.
Lonestarblue
(10,011 posts)She has already offered to resign once, and her future as a leader seems unlikely. She should just let voters decide. If the Conservatives hate her for doing so, too bad. They already hate her. Theyre like our own Republican Party, who would rather destroy the country than allow a Democrat to have a success.
cstanleytech
(26,294 posts)If the answer is yes then without that her hands are probably tied.
Lonestarblue
(10,011 posts)Im no expert on British politics, but PM David Cameron called for the Brexit referendum, so I would think that May could do the same since the government is clearly unable to reach any kind of agreement at this point. What a mess! No matter which direction the country goes, roughly half the country will be very unhappy and will resent the result. A lot like politics in the US.
nitpicker
(7,153 posts)Leaders of the European Union on Thursday offered to extend the Brexit deadline to October 31, which British Prime Minister Theresa May accepted.
European Council President Donald Tusk confirmed that the EU and the UK had agreed on the extension so that the UK could "find the best possible solution."
As EU members gathered in Brussels on Wednesday to decide Brexit's fate, Tusk had pushed for an extension of up to one year, but others including French President Emmanuel Macron had feared it could lead to the UK meddling in EU affairs months before leaving.
(snip)
BumRushDaShow
(129,096 posts)I know when the articles first came out, the news outlets were waiting for a press conference to convene with more info.
maryellen99
(3,789 posts)I bet they are going to be outraged over this.
BumRushDaShow
(129,096 posts)But yeah, the Boris Johnsons of the UK are probably going to try to manufacture something.
I thought this headline from The Independent was hilarious -
Labour and the EU are scrambling to Boris-proof Brexit talks with May as the Tory leadership race heats up
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/brexit-boris-johnson-labour-andrea-leadsom-theresa-may-labour-eu-a8863016.html
"Boris-proof". Just like Jim Jordan here.
mwooldri
(10,303 posts)The law is that the UK cannot leave the EU without a deal. Leaving with no deal would be illegal. So the government has no choice but to extend the Brexit date. Until a deal is done, a new public vote, or article 50 is cancelled.
BumRushDaShow
(129,096 posts)And now, unless some plan is done before that, then they will have to participate in the upcoming EU Parliamentary elections. So that seems to suggest that the leaves will want out before May 23rd!
brooklynite
(94,597 posts)muriel_volestrangler
(101,321 posts)until December, since the malcontents in the Tory party failed with their last try, and have to wait. They could either try to disrupt the working of her government - a form of strike, I suppose, which would be ironic for the Tories - but that might make them look petty (though that doesn't hurt Trump with his base, so maybe they'll try that), or persuade Corbyn to bring an opposition vote of no confidence, to force an election - but he won't do that until it benefits Labour. Or they just 'put pressure' on her to go - but one thing she has shown herself to be is amazingly resistant to pressure.
Denzil_DC
(7,242 posts)the powerful committee of backbench MPs that holds the fate of all Tory leaders in its hands.
Having seen off the party's no confidence vote earlier this year, in theory May can't face another one for a year. However, that's just the 1922 Committee's rule, not the party's, and it can change those rules via a vote ...
Given how riven the Tories are at the moment, I've no idea how that might pan out.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,321 posts)Yes, I could see them changing their rules quickly if they had the will, while a party rule would probably take until the party conference to change.
Denzil_DC
(7,242 posts)It's been so drummed into us that she's safe from an intra-party challenge for now that I just accepted it.
Since utter headbanging grandstanders like Mark Francois seem to be taking a leading role in "the '22" at the moment, I think all bets are off. May's position's probably less safe than she would have been with a shorter Brexit extension. The main question is who would have the appetite to take on misadministering this whole clusterfuck at the moment, not least because the Tories are so divided and the polls aren't looking good?
Tommy_Carcetti
(43,182 posts)Javaman
(62,530 posts)otherwise this is just delaying the inevitable.
a revote would destroy the Tories and I think they know that.
BumRushDaShow
(129,096 posts)the Tories would avoid that option at all costs. It may be up to the other parties (back benchers) within the conservative coalition government to decide whether it would happen or not. I.e., if enough of that group decides to drop support of the current government, that could trigger another vote against May (the Tories alone didn't have enough seats for a clear win to form a government). Whether that happens or not is another issue and whether they may consider joining with Labour is yet another possible, but unlikely scenario (at least with Corbyn there), but who knows?