Tell us what you want or we won’t delay, insists EU
The European Union will reject a delay to Brexit unless MPs decide whether to hold a second referendum or change course for a softer Brexit.
Michel Barnier, the EU’s lead negotiator, warned that European leaders would not agree to an extension next week if MPs do not hold votes on the future of Brexit. The move could push Britain towards a no-deal exit.
‘‘That is the question that we need an answer to now,’’ he said yesterday. ‘‘That has to be answered before a possible extension. Why would we extend these discussions, because the discussion on Article 50 is done and dusted? We are waiting for the answer.’’
According to officials, Barnier was told by senior MEPs in private talks that EU elections due in Britain on May 23 must not be held during any Article 50 extension period because the polls would be dominated by ‘‘Big Ben tolling and fighting on the streets of London’’.
Guy Verhofstadt, the European parliament’s lead Brexit negotiator, said that he did not want Britain to take part in EU elections under any circumstances, whether in May or at a later date if there was a longer extension.
‘‘European elections will be hijacked by Brexiteers and the Brexit issue. We will talk only about that, not the real problems and reforms we need in the EU,’’ he said. ‘‘The only thing we will do is give a new mandate to Nigel Farage. It is exactly what he wants.’’
The EU expects Theresa May to tell a summit of European leaders next week what Britain will do next after she told MPs yesterday that aside from her deal, there were three options: to cancel Brexit, hold a second referendum or switch to a softer Brexit.
Andrej Babis, the Czech prime minister, disclosed that he had pleaded with May to hold a second vote on Brexit during a telephone call at the weekend. ‘‘I told her that the best solution would be for the UK to remain in the EU,’’ he said. ‘‘That is why I believe it is worth holding a new referendum. She refused, but I still don’t think it impossible.’’ The EU is divided over whether to allow Britain to have an extension at all and what the political conditions would be should all 27 European leaders agree to one next week.
‘‘There is not a clear automatic majority, let alone unanimity, among EU27 for an extension,’’ one diplomat said. ‘‘There are different ideas, conditions and length of extension. May is going to have to persuade EU leaders on an extension. It is by no means a given.’’ As MPs prepared to vote on ruling out a no-deal Brexit, Barnier warned the Commons that without clarity on a Brexit strategy, Britain would automatically leave the EU without a deal in 16 days. ‘‘We are at a critical moment. The risk of nodeal has never been higher, even by accident,’’ he said. ‘‘I urge you please not to underestimate that risk or its consequences. We are ready to face that situation if we have to.’’