EU leaders talk tough on prospect of an extension in attempt to sway MPS
Emmanuel Macron turned up the pressure on MPS to back Boris Johnson’s new Brexit deal by raising doubts that any further delay will be granted.
Just a day before the crunch Commons vote, the French president said that the EU would not grant a further delay to Article 50 unless there are “some major changes”.
His threat added to one from European Commission president Jean-claude Juncker, who said on Thursday that there would be “no prolongation”.
However, reports suggest Germany’s Angela Merkel told fellow-eu leaders in private talks that a delay is inevitable if MPS reject the agreement on Saturday.
During a press conference to close the EU summit in Brussels yesterday, Mr Macron said theblocneededto“putanend” to the saga of Brexit.
“So that we can turn to the future, I believe that we shall stick to the deadline of October 31,” he said.
“That being said, I’m not trying to read the future but I do not think we shall grant any further delay. Like I said, there shall be no delay unless there are some major changes.”
Mr Juncker followed up his warning about an extension yesterday by saying that rejection of Mr Johnson’s deal by MPS would create an “extremely complicated situation”.
The Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel also said the UK faces a “choice between deal or no deal”.
And Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar made it clear that although Ireland would be open to an extension for Britain, “Plan B is no-deal.”
“I don’t think any MP voting tomorrow should make the assumption that there would be unanimity for an extension,” Mr Varadkar said.
“Plan B is no-deal, and we’re all preparing for that, and we’ve all been preparing for that since the referendum, but let’s hope that doesn’t happen.”
Asked if Thursday’s deal is the last offer from the EU, Mr Varadkar replied: “It is. I cannot see the European Union coming back again for another set of negotiations, I really can’t.
He added: “It’s really in the hands now of MPS and I just hope they’ll consider the matter and decide what they believe is best for their country... as things stand, there is no request from the UK for an extension.
“If for some reason a request came, then Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, would consult individually with all the European leaders to see if we would agree to such a request.”