European Council President Donald Tusk says the EU will accept the UK’s request for a Brexit extension until 31 January 2020’
The decision had been delayed last week and in a warning, Guy Verhofstadt said ‘the uncertainty of Brexit has gone on for far too long – this extra time must deliver a way forward’.
French President Emmanuel Macron had blocked a decision on the Brexit extension last Friday, preferring a 15-day delay.
France’s Europe minister Amélie de Montchalin said the extension will allow for ‘democratic clarification like new elections’ adding that France supports neither ‘interference or indifference’.
The terms of the extension mean that Brexit will take place on the first day of the month following the ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill or on 1 February 2020, whichever is the earliest
The Withdrawal Agreement isn’t up for renegotiation during the extension period and the UK must nominate a candidate for its EU Commissioner after the extension is granted
Meanwhile the UK can still revoke Brexit if it decides to, and should do nothing which is perceived as sabotaging the bloc during the extension period.
MP’s will vote this afternoon on whether to trigger an election on the 12th December.
