Macron warns UK must give ‘a solid reason for Brexit delay’
Election, referendum or deal are the options
THE UK will have to give a solid reason for delaying its departure from the EU if it is to get broad support in European capitals, according to French President Emmanuel Macron.
The House of Commons has now agreed MPs should vote on whether to rule out a no-deal and extend Article 50 if Prime Minister Theresa May’s current deal can’t get enough support.
It means the prospect of the UK crashing out has receded further, although planning for a no-deal scenario is continuing unabated.
In the Dáil, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said emergency legislation to take the sting out of a disorderly Brexit needs to be passed.
He warned TDs that managing a no-deal Brexit “is an exercise in damage limitation”.
The key focus has moved back to London though, where MPs took part in another series of votes aimed at reaching some sort of consensus on a way forward.
Proposals put forward by Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn were emphatically rejected by a margin of 323 votes to 240.
He is now expected to throw his party’s weight behind demands for a second referendum in order “to prevent a damaging Tory Brexit being forced on the country”.
Perhaps more significantly though, the House accepted a motion from Labour’s Yvette Cooper which means if Mrs May can’t get her deal through there will be a vote calling for Brexit to be postponed. A delay will have to be approved by the remaining EU members.
Ireland has said it will not stand in the way of a delay but the French president has said there must be a clear reason for delaying it.
“If the British need more time, we would support an extension request if it was justified by new choices from the British,” Mr Macron told a joint news briefing with Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel in Paris.
“But we would in no way accept an extension without a clear view on the objective pursued,” he added. “As our negotiator Michel Barnier said, we don’t need more time, we need decisions.”
French officials have said Paris would agree to delay Brexit only if that came with a credible solution – if Britain called an election, held a second referendum, or presented a new plan that was acceptable to all sides but needed more time to be finalised.
Ms Merkel said she was “totally on the same line” as Mr Macron but appeared more willing to show flexibility.
“If Britain needs some more time, we won’t refuse but we are striving for an orderly solution, ie. an orderly exit of Britain from the European Union,” she said.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin told the Dáil his party would facilitate the passage of the legislation but added there was “general evidence of the fact that Ireland is not ready for Brexit to occur in 30 days’ time”.
He also complained the Government “has not answered the simple question” of what will happen at the Border in a no-deal scenario.
“We have been told repeatedly what is ‘not being contemplated’ or ‘not being planned’ – but equally we have been told that a hard Brexit – and a no-deal is the hardest of
all Brexits – will cause serious disruption.”
He argued that the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Transport Minister have all put forward different “contradictory statements”.
“According to the Taoiseach, the army may be sent to the Border. According to Minister Ross, there may be security checks.
“But according to the Tánaiste, there are no such actions likely or being considered,” he said.
Mr Varadkar said if the UK chooses to leave the EU with- out a deal, Ireland and the EU will have responsibilities in term of ensuring protection of the single market and customs unions.
He said the EU had been “unambiguous” about its determination to do “all it can, deal or no deal, to avoid the need for a Border and to protect the peace process”.
“The UK will have its own responsibilities, including meeting WTO requirements.
“And we will all have our respective obligations under the Good Friday Agreement,” he said.