Juncker rules out further Brexit delay
JEAN-CLAUDE JUNCKER piled the pressure on MPs to back Boris Johnson’s lastminute Brexit deal by raising doubts over any further delay to the UK’s departure from the European Union.
The European Commission president said there would be no further extension to Article 50, after the Prime Minister called on Parliament to “come together and get Brexit done”.
EU leaders approved the new Brexit deal at the key summit yesterday, paving the way for a parliamentary showdown after the Democratic Unionist Party ruled out backing the agreement.
Following days of intense negotiations, the PM announced that he had struck a “great new deal” shortly before heading to the Brussels meeting.
But it must still be passed by a Parliament which has so far proved hostile to both Brexit and Mr Johnson.
His key ally, the DUP, emphatically ruled out voting for the new deal, citing a series of objections over the integrity of the Union, the Good Friday Agreement and Northern Ireland’s economy.
Mr Juncker, after holding a face-to-face discussion with the PM, told reporters the deal “has to” be approved by Parliament.
“Anyway there will be no prolongation,” he added, on the October 31 deadline.
“We have concluded a deal and so there is not an argument for further delay – it has to be done now.”
However, whether any requested extension is granted is not down to Mr Juncker – it requires the consent of the 27 remaining members of the European Council.
Mr Johnson appeared to be directly appealing to Arlene Foster’s party at an earlier press conference alongside Mr Juncker, saying the deal allowed the UK to leave the bloc “whole and entire”.
He said the “fair” and “reasonable” agreement would protect the Irish peace process and allow the whole of the UK to take part in new free trade deals.
“I hope very much now, speaking of elected representatives, that my fellow MPs in Westminster do now come together to get Brexit done, to get this excellent deal over the line and deliver Brexit without any more delay,” he added.
The DUP, which has been in close and regular talks with the PM, had criticised his effort for undermining the integrity of the union and being bad for Northern Ireland’s economy.
The deal also “drives a coach and horses” through the Good Friday peace agreement over the issue of consent, a strongly-worded statement from the party said.
MPs are expected to hold a meaningful debate on the deal tomorrow after MPs yesterday approved a motion to hold the first weekend sitting of Parliament in 37 years.
If Parliament does not vote for the agreement tomorrow, the PM faces an almighty clash over whether he will request a further Brexit delay from Brussels as he is compelled to under the Benn Act.