Brussels postpones Brexit delay decision
The EU has pushed back the deadline to make a decision on how long a Brexit delay it will offer the UK.
But EU leaders have agreed in principle to grant the UK a Brexit extension, the European Commission said today.
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The EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier told reporters that there was “no decision” following a two-hour meeting of ambassadors in Brussels amid uncertainty over whether the UK will hold an election in December.
“There was full agreement to reach a unanimous, consensual EU27 decision,” an anonymous EU source told the Guardian.
“And there was full agreement to aim to take the decision by written procedure … Work will continue over the weekend.”
The announcement did little to the pound, which is down 0.2 per cent against the dollar at $1.282.
An offer on a Brexit delay is now expected to be made just days before the UK’s scheduled departure date of 31 October.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that he expects the EU to give an extension to the 31 October Brexit deadline.
Downing Street has demanded an election on 12 December, but opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn has said he would not support a pre-Christmas poll until a no-deal Brexit is “off the table”.
“I’d be surprised if we land today,” one EU official said ahead of a meeting between the bloc’s leaders today.
European Commission spokeswoman Mina Andreeva said EU leaders “have agreed to the principle of an extension” and their work will “continue in the coming days” .
The government is set to table a motion calling for a 12 December general election on Monday.
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Two-thirds of MPs must vote for a general election before one can be held. So far Johnson has failed twice to get the numbers he needs.
The Prime Minister has promised to give MPs more time to debate his Brexit bill if they agreed to a general election.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said he would only support a general election if the EU granted a three-month delay and the threat of a no-deal Brexit was taken off the table.
Downing Street has said that if the EU offers a Brexit delay, the government can use secondary legislation to change the date of the UK’s departure.
Chancellor Sajid Javid has admitted the deadline to deliver Brexit next Thursday “can’t be met”.
Speaking to the BBC earlier, Javid said the government must “accept we won’t be able to leave on 31 October”.
Johnson had previously said he would rather “die in a ditch” than delay Brexit beyond his Halloween deadline.
French National Assembly member Marie Lebec said France would only agree to a delay if it was sure it was not an “extension for nothing”.
The EU could offer a shorter delay to mid or late November to pressure MPs to back Johnson’s Brexit deal.
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French President Emmanuel Macron has said he would only back a three-month delay if the UK was going to hold a general election. Otherwise he said he would only support such a long delay if there was a clear route to the Brexit bill winning support.