UK Brexit head denies delay talk
British and European officials are discussing the possibility of extending the formal exit process from the European Union amid fears a Brexit deal will not be approved by March 29, The Daily Telegraph reported, citing unidentified sources.
The Telegraph cited three unidentified EU sources as saying British officials had been “putting out feelers” and “testing the waters” on an extension of Article 50, a part of the Lisbon Treaty which sets out the conditions for leaving the EU.
Prime Minister Theresa May has repeatedly ruled out delaying Brexit, although she has also warned lawmakers that if they reject her deal, Brexit could be derailed or the UK could leave without a deal.
British Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay, when asked about the Telegraph report, said: “We are not looking to extend.” Asked directly if he denied the report, Barclay said: “Yes, because I can be very clear that the government’s policy is to leave on March 29.”
He added that extending the Article 50 exit process was not a unilateral decision of the UK.
Extending would require unanimous agreement of EU heads of state in the European Council.
The future of Brexit remains deeply uncertain. Next week British lawmakers are expected to vote down the divorce deal that May struck with the EU in November. Business chiefs and investors fear that leaving the EU without an approved deal would silt up the arteries of trade, spook financial markets and dislocate supply chains for the world’s fifth-largest economy.
Besides leaving without a deal or on the terms of May’s deal, other options include delaying Brexit, calling a parliamentary election and holding another referendum on EU membership.
The ultimate Brexit outcome will shape Britain’s $2.8 trillion (R39 trillion) economy, have far-reaching consequences for the unity of the UK and determine whether London can keep its place as one of the top two global financial centres.