Brexit: Angela Merkel tells EU leaders they WILL offer Britain a third ‘unavoidable’ extension if deal gets voted down
ANGELA Merkel has told EU leaders they have to offer Britain a third Brexit extension if Boris Johnson’s deal gets voted down in the Commons.
The German Chancellor made it clear to fellow Brussels chiefs they could not pretend an extension would not be offered, if requested by Parliament.
BREXIT EXTENSION
Ms Merkel’s comments are a stark contrast from those of Jean-Claude Juncker who told reporters he was “ruling out” another delay.
The European Commission President said yesterday: “He [Boris Johnson] and myself don’t think it’s possible to give another prolongation. There will be no other.
“We have a deal so why should we have a prolongation.”
PRIVATE TALKS
The conversation between EU leaders took place shortly before they publicly backed Mr Johnson’s deal, The Guardian reports.
Ms Merkel then instructed the PM not to tell the press that an extension would be ruled out.
After Boris left the private meeting, certain EU bosses – including Luxembourg’s Xavier Bettel and Malta’s Joseph Muscat – said they did not have the appetite for another Brexit delay.
We have not been focusing on the question today, if or when. It’s a free decision to be taken by the British parliament.
Angela Merkel
Ms Merkel later told reporters: “We have not been focusing on the question today, if or when. It’s a free decision to be taken by the British parliament.”
EU Council President Donald Tusk backed Ms Merkel’s message and told a press conference that member states would consider the request.
He told said: “If there is a request for an extension, I will contact member states to see how to react.”
CHARM OFFENSIVE
Boris is now embarking on a 24-hour charm offensive today to sell his “great new” Brexit deal.
He faces a race against time ahead of Saturday’s showdown in the Commons after the DUP vowed to vote down his agreement.
Hardline Tory Brexiteers are letting the PM sweat over whether they will vote his Brexit plan – but the government is confident they can win the majority of the 28 ‘Spartans’ round.
The PM has also left the door open to restoring the whip to the 21 ex-Tory MPs he sacked last month for backing the Brexit-delaying Benn Act in another bid to boost his numbers.
However, he also needs the support of Labour Brexiteers – with 10 ready to enrage Jeremy Corbyn by pushing the deal through.
MOST READ IN POLITICS
The Labour rebels will back Boris if he publishes a bill before Saturday that would offer EU-style protection to workers’ rights.
A Labour MP told the Huffington Post: “In some ways, this is weaker than May’s deal because it takes them from the withdrawal agreement and puts them into the non-binding political declaration.
“But if Boris can write all these things onto the face of a bill, and bring that bill forward pronto, we can vote for it.”
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.