Brexit Bill: Take 4
Beleaguered May’s June date to get EU deal passed
BY TORCUIL CRICHTON THERESA May has kicked the Brexit can down the road again, setting a deadline to get her deal through the Commons.
After an extended weekly meeting in Downing Street yesterday, the Government last night announced that it will bring forward key legislation to implement the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement in the week beginning June 3.
It’ll be the fourth attempt to get May’s deal over the line. A No10 spokesman added: “This evening, the Prime Minister met the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons to make clear our determination to bring the talks to a conclusion and deliver on the referendum result to leave the EU.
“It is imperative we do so then, if the UK is to leave the EU before the summer Parliamentary recess.
“Talks this evening between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition were both useful and constructive.
“Tomorrow, talks will continue at an official level as we seek the stable majority in Parliament that will ensure the safe passage of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill and the UK’s swift exit from the EU.”
The June 3 date came despite John McDonnell saying that talks were going nowhere and that there has been no “significant shift” by May, whose future is on the line at a meeting with her backbench 1922 committee this week.
Shadow Chancellor McDonnell highlighted a letter from Tories, including leadership contenders Boris Johnson and Dominic Raab, demanding May reject Labour’s customs union idea. McDonnell claimed Johnson could be PM in months and overturn any deal.