Brexit: EU will approve extension only if Theresa May’s deal passes

Theresa May rules out a Brexit delay past June 30; but the EU won’t approve any extension unless MPs pass her withdrawal bill.

Theresa May leaves from the rear of 10 Downing Street. Picture: AFP.

Theresa May has told the British public she does not expect Brexit to meet its March 29 deadline, and blamed MPs for the continuing impasse over the exit process.

In a direct appeal to the public, the British Prime Minister went before the cameras this morning (AEDT) to tell voters the crisis engulfing parliament “is a matter of great personal regret to me.”

She accused MPs of being unable to make a decision as to what style of Brexit they wanted and urged them “to get on with it’’. But after writing to the Eureopean Union asking to extend Article 50 to June 30 she specifically ruled out a longer extension because it would mean asking the public to vote in European elections three years after voting to leave and could result in a ‘’bitter and divisive’’ campaign.

“So far parliament has done everything to avoid making a choice,” (between her deal, no deal or no Brexit,) she said. “It’s high time to make a decision.”

The PM also dismissed a second referendum. “It is not what I want, we asked you the question already and you gave us your answer, that is what I am determined to do.’’

Earlier she told a meeting of leaders of other parties that she was ruling out a general election. The meeting wasn’t attended by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who stormed out on seeing that the former Labour MP and now Independent group spokesman Chukka Ummuna had also been invited.

Mrs May’s public statement came after a fed-up EU issued her with a dramatic ultimatum, saying it will only approve an extension to Brexit if her current withdrawal bill is passed through parliament next week.

The EU position, articulated by European Council president Donald Tusk in a statement early this morning has squeezed the few options left for Mrs May, who had hours earlier requested a “technical Brexit extension” to June 30 amid promises not to interfere in the European parliament elections at the end of May.

The EU’s intervention has recast any withdrawal bill vote next week as a stark choice between Mrs May’s Brexit or a no-deal Brexit.

With around 17 hardline Brexiteers still opposed to her bill, she will need support from Labour and possibly the Democratic Unionist party to get it passed.

Mrs May has already been constrained in bringing the withdrawal bill back to parliament for a third vote — it has been heavily defeated on two previous occasions — because Speaker of the House John Bercow won’t allow it, citing a 400-year-old convention to refuse repeated motions of the same substance.

Mrs May was due to speak at a press conference at 7am this morning (AEDT), which could provide some clarity as to how she will circumvent the Speaker and also satisfy the EU’s demands.

In her letter to the EU, Mrs May said Mr Bercow’s ruling meant she couldn’t present the withdrawal bill again until after the European Council meeting. Presumably she was hoping to be able to add the EU decision about the extension onto the end of the withdrawal bill to make it substantially different.

EU diplomats were briefing journalists that European countries are to take a united front by insisting on assurances that the withdrawal agreement will be passed at Westminster before any talks would begin about the length of the extension. European leaders are to discuss the Brexit issue later tonight (GMT).

In the French parliament, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said much depended on “the credibility of Mrs May’s strategy’’ and her guarantees, otherwise the extension would be rejected and the EU would opt for a no-deal Brexit.

Mr Tusk said in his statement: “In the light of the consultations that I have conducted over the past days, I believe that a short extension would be possible. But it would be conditional on a positive vote on the withdrawal agreement in the House of Commons.’’

He added: “The question remains open as to the duration of such an extension. At this time, I do not foresee an extraordinary European Council. If the leaders approve my recommendations and there is a positive vote in the House of Commons next week, we can finalise and formalise the decision on extension in the written procedure.

”However, if there is such a need, I will not hesitate to invite the members of the European Council for a meeting to Brussels next week.’’

Mr Tusk added: “Brexit fatigue is increasingly visible and justified,’’ but he said the EU had reacted with patience and goodwill to numerous turns of events and they would not give up seeking a solution until the very last minute.

“I am confident that also now we will not lack the same patience and goodwill at this most critical point in this process,’’ he said.

In Ireland, Prime Minister Leo Varadkar called for the EU to “cut the British government some slack’’ in regards to the extension request.

There is a real risk of no deal happening by accident,’’ he said.

Some analysts believe that if the withdrawal bill is defeated for a third time, parliament would change the law to ensure the UK would not exit without any deal. Currently the default Brexit day by law is March 29 at 11pm (March 30 10am AEDT).

Under this scenario where parliament legislates a different date, there could be a very long extension to Brexit, which could prompt Mrs May’s resignation.

Mrs May told parliament; “This house has voted on and rejected a second referendum, it has voted on and rejected no deal, it has voted on and rejected Labour’s deal, it has voted on and rejected a customs union, and it has voted on and supported leaving with a deal.

“It is time this parliament faced the consequences.”

But Tory Remainer Dominic Grieve said Mrs May failed to consider the ways she is leading the Government which might be contributing to the situation.

“I have to say, I could have wept. Wept at her being reduced to these straits, and wept to see her zig-zagging all over the place, rather than standing up for what is in the national interest,” he said.