Short Brexit delay possible only if U.K. Parliament backs deal: EU

Updated Date: 3/21/2019

Category: Political News

Warns extension beyond May 23 will pose institutional difficulties, legal uncertainty

Britain s political crisis continued to unfold on Wednesday as European Council President Donald Tusk said that a short extension to Article 50 would be conditional on a positive vote in the House of Commons.

The length of that conditional extension is yet to be determined, as the European Commission and the Council indicated their concerns about the U.K. s proposal for an extension till June 30. Any extension beyond May 23, when European parliamentary election is due to take place, would pose institutional difficulties and legal uncertainty they warned.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Theresa May wrote to EU Council President Donald Tusk, seeking a short extension to Article 50 till June 30, and insisting that she would press ahead with another vote on her withdrawal deal next week.

Same motion

It comes despite a ruling by the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, earlier this week that the same motion could not be put before the House repeatedly during the same parliamentary session and despite warnings from EU leaders that an extension would only be granted if the U.K. had clear and precise reasons as to why it should be given.