Chancellor Sajid Javid admits 31 October Brexit deadline ‘can’t be met’ as government tables election vote
Sajid Javid has admitted that the 31 October Brexit deadline is all but dead.
It is the first time the government has publicly accepted it is unlikely the UK will leave the EU before the end of the month, despite Boris Johnson’s “do or die” pledge.
The Chancellor said it is likely the EU will grant parliament’s request for a three-month extension to the Brexit deadline and has also called on the opposition to get behind a Christmas general election.
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“We’ve done everything possible to leave on the 31 October,” Javid told the BBC. “We got the deal that everyone said we couldn’t get. We planned extremely carefully for a no-deal outcome as well. But because of the actions of parliament, and especially Jeremy Corbyn, we’ve had more dither and more delay.
“We have to accept that we won’t be able to leave on 31 October because parliament has requested an extension. Although we haven’t heard back from the EU, we have to assume they will agree to the request and offer a three-month extension.”
It comes after Javid revealed the Budget scheduled for 6 November would be cancelled and that government would be seeking a general election.
Johnson said he would give MPs more time to debate the deal if they back a poll for 12 December.
Election motion
The Prime Minister plans to table a Commons vote on an early general election on Monday if the EU gives the Brexit delay until 31 January.
The government will need the support of two-thirds of MPs to pass the motion under the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act. Labour is yet to commit on which way it will vote.
Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said Labour wanted to gain “explicit commitment that no-deal is off the table” before agreeing to an election.
“That might mean further legislation in Parliament, I’m not sure – but we want to be absolutely certain,” she told the BBC.
Downing Street has threatened that Johnson will do the “bare minimum” in parliament should a general election be voted against again.
Meanwhile Javid suggested the government could abandon its Brexit withdrawal agreement bill and planned legislation set out in the Queen’s Speech if MPs refuse an election.
“The opposition have said, week after week, that if there is a delay of three months, which is what they requested through parliament, then they will vote for a general election, so let’s see if they keep their word.
“And if they don’t then we will keep bringing back to parliament a motion to have an election. And we will keep doing that again and again.”
He added: “As for other parliamentary business, we’ll have to wait and see what that is, and we will react to it at that time. But the most important issue is to get Brexit done, and to have that general election.”
EU discuss Brexit delay
EU ambassadors are meeting today to discuss how long of a delay to allow the UK.
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Most are said to be in favour of moving the Brexit deadline back to 31 January, while France is thought to prefer a shorter extension.
While Labour are keen to ensure no-deal is off the table before committing to a general election, the Liberal Democrats leader Jo Swinson has said the party would be willing to back the motion dependent on the length of the extension.