Opposition MPs write to EU negotiator to seek Brexit talks extension due to Covid-19 pandemic
EUROPE’S chief Brexit negotiator has been told there is “significant opposition” to the UK Government’s refusal to consider extending the timetable for talks.
Both the SNP leader at Westminster, Ian Blackford, and the acting Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey have signed a letter to Michel Barnier supporting an extension to the transition period.
Such a move would allow talks to place when “the efforts of national governments and the European Union will not be engaged solely with dealing with the dreadful Covid-19 epidemic”, they said.
With the UK having formally quit the European Union, talks are taking place between the UK and EU to determine key areas such as future trading relationships.
But with the transition period due to expire at the end of this year, there are fears the UK may be forced into a no-deal scenario, if an agreement cannot be reached.
The group contacted Barnier to highlight the “significant opposition to the UK Government’s extreme position among the business community, the general public and elected representatives”.
The opposition MPs noted the Scottish and Welsh governments both backed an extension of the transition period, along with “the majority of political parties in the Northern Ireland Executive”.
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said they had written to Barnier because “time is running out until we hit the hard Brexit deadline”. He insisted: “It is vital that the Tory Government does the only responsible thing and accepts a two-year extension to the transition period.”
The MP continued: “Polls consistently show that the overwhelming majority of people in Scotland and across the UK want to see an extension to the Brexit transition period – and there is growing consensus across political parties. It’s time for the UK Government to act.”
A UK Government spokesman said: “The Government was elected on a manifesto which made clear the transition period would end on December 31, 2020. That is enshrined in primary legislation and it remains our policy. We will not ask to extend the transition period, and if the EU asks we will say no. Extending it would increase uncertainty and prolong the negotiations.”