Flextension could be the Brexit word of the day

European Council President Donald Tusk is open to the idea of offering a one year extension to the United Kingdom in the Brexit process, the BBC reported. Prime Minister Theresa May only wants to push the deadline until 30 June, but agreed to hold European elections if the delay extends beyond 23 May. Meanwhile negotiations to find a suitable deal continue between the cabinet and the opposition Labour party.

POLITICS APRIL 5. 2019 11:32

In preparation for the emergency EU summit next week, European Council President Donald Tusk held several meetings yesterday and according to a senior source in the administration, he will propose a delay of one year with the option of exiting sooner should Her Majesty s Government be able to reach a compromise with the opposition before the extension expires.

However, in a letter sent to Mr Tusk Prime Minister Theresa May requested an extension until 30 June with the intention of completing the withdrawal process before 23 May, the first day of the European election. In the letter dated 5 April, the Prime Minister explains that she met with the opposition leader this week and that the follow-up discussions are now taking place. “If the talks do not lead to a single unified approach soon, the government would instead look to establish a consensus on a small number of clear options on the future relationship [with the EU] that could be put to the House in a series of votes to determine which course to pursue,” May said, adding that the government “stands ready to abide by the decision of the House, if the opposition will commit to doing the same”. The letter also adds that the government will want a timetable for ratification that allows the UK to withdraw before 23 May and therefore cancel the European Parliament (EP) elections, but “will continue to make responsible preparations to hold the elections should this not prove to be possible”.

This is not the first time Mrs May raised the idea of a 30 June withdrawal deadline, but the European Union was so far hesitant for it fears that it could be followed by further requests to extend the deadline. The ‘flextension’ would certainly avoid that, but essentially having agreed to hold the EP elections if necessary, the Prime Minister’s renewed request might be better received than it was previously suggested by the European Union.

EU leaders would have to agree to either of the proposals unanimously, but as a no-deal Brexit could have a major negative effect on the economies of both the UK and the European Union, it is unlikely that anyone would firmly stand in the way of a potential solution. Nevertheless, a wide range of options are still being discussed in Brussels.

In the meantime, negotiations between Mrs May’s cabinet and the opposition lasted for more than four hours yesterday and the sides are expected to meet again today. In a final attempt to break the Brexit-deadlock, the meeting included debates about customs arrangements, single market alignment, internal security, legal underpinning to any agreements and a confirmatory referendum. The cross-party talks would have to bear fruit before the Prime Minister has to present a proposal to the emergency summit next Wednesday.

If that does not happen, the United Kingdom might not have an option other than to accept whatever the EU’s proposing. Especially since the House of Commons voted by a majority of one to force Mrs May to ask the EU for an extension in order to avoid a no-deal Brexit. That bill is still in the upper chamber of the British Parliament after hardliner Brexiteers in the House of Lords filibustered the motion with seven procedural amendments, so it is not expected to become a law until at least Monday. This means that the Prime Minister can only start debating the MPs about the length of the delay on Tuesday – as she would be required to do so by the new law – and on Wednesday she will have to leave for Brussels to attend the emergency summit.

POLITICS

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Brexit, donald tusk, flextension, theresa may