Brexit delay plan sparks backlash
PROPOSALS to delay the UK’s final departure from the EU until 2021 have been dismissed as “a rather poor attempt at kicking the can down the road” by arch-Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg.
Leave-backing Cabinet ministers Michael Gove and Penny Mordaunt also signalled concern that Britain’s withdrawal from the EU should proceed swiftly.
Prime Minister Theresa May told leaders of the remaining EU member states in Brussels that she was ready to consider an extension by “a matter of months” of the transition period, which is currently due to stretch until December 2020.
The transition – during which the UK would remain in the single market and customs union and subject to EU rules – is intended to provide time for authorities and officials to prepare for new arrangements following the official date of Brexit next March.
Allowing it to be extended would provide flexibility to cover any gap until a future trade and security partnership is implemented, avoiding the need for a hard border in Ireland during this period, Mrs May suggested. But she insisted that any delay would “only be for a matter of months”, adding: “This is not expected to be used, because we are working to ensure that we have that future relationship in place by the end of December 2020.”
The proposal sparked a fierce backlash from Brexiteers, with former Ukip leader Nigel Farage warning it “may mean we never leave at all”.
Mr Rees-Mogg said it risked “very substantial costs” for the UK, which would have to make additional contributions running into billions of pounds into EU budgets.
An extended transition period “means we are in the EU for longer when the EU can make rules for the UK over which we would have no say and we would be paying for the privilege”, the North East Somerset MP said.
“The Government doesn’t have endless money. It has to make choices. The question the Government has to answer is if this costs billions of pounds, is it better to give the money to the EU or better to sort out the issues with Universal Credit?”
Mr Rees-Mogg said an extension would not break the deadlock in withdrawal negotiations, because the EU would still demand a “backstop” arrangement to keep the Irish border open.
UK officials said Mrs May continues to regard the EU backstop – under which Northern Ireland would remain within the customs union until a broader trade agreement was finalised – as “unacceptable”.
The European Council summit had long been pencilled in as a “moment of truth” when agreement must be reached to have time for ratification and avoid the UK crashing out without a deal on March 29, 2019.
But no deal was reached, and the leaders of the 27 remaining EU states decided not to call a special Brexit summit in November after chief negotiator Michel Barnier said he needed “much more time” for talks.