Only 72 hours to save Brexit
Theresa May plans to clinch withdrawal deal in final days before 29 March exit date
Theresa May plans to clinch a final Brexit deal just days before the UK crashes out of the EU, reports claim.
The Sun on Sunday’s political editor David Wooding says the prime minister will look to secure concessions to her withdrawal agreement at a summit of EU leaders on 22 March with a final deal put to the Commons the following Tuesday, just three days before the UK formally leaves the bloc on 29 March.
“Downing Street hope the tight margin will win over enough MPs to back a freshly-tweaked deal” says Wooding, however, it represents a high-stakes game of brinkmanship which dramatically increases the chance of an accidental no-deal Brexit.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Former government chief whip Mark Harper has urged MPs to “hold their nerve right up to the wire” to give the prime minister “a fighting chance to secure the necessary changes to the withdrawal agreement to get Parliament’s approval”.
Meanwhile a senior government source said: “It’s a tight landing zone – but it’s a landing zone nevertheless. If we can get our timing right, we’ll touch down in time.”
Carolyn Fairbairn, head of the Confederation British Industry, told Sky News the prospect of the UK leaving the EU without a deal has “gone up” as the possibility of a deal getting through parliament recedes.
The BBC reports that Theresa May will ask MPs on Wednesday for more time to get legally-binding changes to the controversial Northern Irish backstop, “which she believes will be enough to secure a majority in Parliament for her deal”.
However, Labour's shadow Brexit secretary, Sir Keir Starmer, says he believes the prime minister is “pretending to make progress” on this issue.
He told The Sunday Times he thought May’s real intention was to run the clock down until the final week before Brexit to offer MPs a “binary choice” between her deal and no deal.
“We shouldn’t be put in a position where the clock is run down and the prime minister says it’s either my deal or even worse. That isn’t right in terms of the respect for parliament,” said Starmer.
In a bid to stop a last-minute showdown, Labour will table an amendment this week to force a meaningful vote on Theresa May’s withdrawal deal by 26 February.
Reuters reports May’s opponents are expected to put forward a series of alternative approaches which will be voted upon, “although it is not clear yet whether any will have sufficient support to pass, and if they do, whether they will force the government to act”.
One option could see the idea of holding a second referendum voted on in the Commons. The Observer reports that a new plan is being drawn up by a cross-party group of MPs to approve May’s Brexit deal “in return for guaranteeing another referendum.”
Politico says “May and her most senior advisers have long waited for the chance to put a second referendum to a vote in the House of Commons”.
In Brexit war-gaming sessions inside Number 10 Downing Street, removing a “People’s Vote” from the list of available options is a key staging post en route to MPs finally backing the prime minister’s deal, one senior government official told the news site.
An opinion poll for The Independent showed 53% of British voters would support a delay in Brexit, while 33% would back a no-deal Brexit even it that harmed the economy.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'Good riddance to the televised presidential debate'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Caitlin Clark the No. 1 pick in bullish WNBA Draft
Speed Read As expected, she went to the Indiana Fever
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 16, 2024
Cartoons Tuesday's cartoons - sleepyhead, little people, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Will Aukus pact survive a second Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question US, UK and Australia seek to expand 'game-changer' defence partnership ahead of Republican's possible return to White House
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Farewell to Theresa May: a PM consumed by Brexit
Talking Point Maidenhead MP standing down at next general election
By The Week UK Published
-
It's the economy, Sunak: has 'Rishession' halted Tory fightback?
Today's Big Question PM's pledge to deliver economic growth is 'in tatters' as stagnation and falling living standards threaten Tory election wipeout
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Stormont power-sharing in sight: 'good news' for Northern Ireland?
Talking Point Unionists vote to end two-year boycott after agreeing legislative package to address post-Brexit trading arrangements
By The Week UK Published
-
Why your local council may be going bust
The Explainer Across England, local councils are suffering from grave financial problems
By The Week UK Published
-
Rishi Sunak and the right-wing press: heading for divorce?
Talking Point The Telegraph launches 'assault' on PM just as many Tory MPs are contemplating losing their seats
By Keumars Afifi-Sabet, The Week UK Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published