The Catch-up: Tories threaten revolt over Brexit delay

What happened?

Brexiteer Conservatives made it clear today they are furious over Theresa May’s decision to delay Brexit as far as October 31. The Prime Minister announced in the early hours of Thursday morning she had agreed with the EU to push back the UK’s withdrawal once again to allow time for Parliament to approve a deal. MP Bill Cash called on Mrs May to step aside in the House of Commons, and former party leader Ian Duncan Smith told the BBC the PM ‘has to name a date for her departure now’.

What next for Brexit?

There are a few options. Speaking in Parliament today, Theresa May urged MPs to approve a Brexit deal ‘as soon as possible’. She said there would be another vote on the deal after MPs’ Easter break, but stressed there is no chance of making changes to the Withdrawal Agreement.

In an attempt to win over MPs who have voted down the deal three times, the PM stressed there is scope to make changes to the Political Declaration agreed with the EU – which is the part of the document that sets out what the UK’s relationship with Europe will be after Brexit. If Parliament finally approves a deal, Brexit would happen a few days later. If this happens early enough, Britain will not need to take part in the European Parliamentary elections on May 23.

If MPs reject Theresa May’s deal again, there will be another round of indicative votes to try and agree a new approach, with one option being a Customs Union with the EU. Again, if this is agreed soon enough the European elections can be cancelled.

But if the stalemate continues beyond May, the public will be forced to vote for MEPs who will then join the European Parliament. They would then stand down if and when a Brexit deal is passed. There is a chance MEPs could be elected but never take their seats, if a deal is agreed between the elections and the start of the new Parliament at the beginning of June.

A no-deal Brexit is still a possibility. It will happen if the UK fails to elect MEPs before June 2 and if we get to the new deadline of October 31 without agreeing a deal.

Read more about this story:

‘Compromise on customs is key to parties’ Brexit talks’ (Evening Standard)
A general election is (probably) coming – and that will unlock Brexit (The Guardian)
May tells MPs it is their national duty to agree Brexit deal (PA Ready News)
Brexit delay agreement pushes pound higher (Yahoo Finance UK)

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30 years

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