UK’s Brexit plans hit trouble in Westminster as well as Brussels

There are fears that the UK’s Brexit plans are running into trouble not just in Brussels, but also in Westminster. The government’s major – and only – piece of legislation is set to come back before Parliament much later than expected, it’s widely thought because of political opposition including among ruling Conservative ranks. The EU Withdrawal Bill – a mechanism to transfer European law into UK law, and absolutely crucial to avoid legal chaos upon the UK’s departure from the EU – has not been scheduled for debate next week and it’s thought may not be discussed until after mid-November. The government insists there has been no “delay” as no date had been set – but it’s now feared that its Brexit plans on the domestic front are slipping seriously behind schedule. In Brussels too, this week is expected to bring confirmation that negotiations will not be moving onto the next stage just yet. A European Council meeting of EU government leaders is set to agree that not enough progress has been made on priority issues – above all the UK’s so-called exit bill – to move onto considering future trade and transitional arrangements. In the House of Commons on Wednesday, Prime Minister Theresa May again refused to rule out a “no deal” scenario. She has come under pressure from pro-Brexit voices to be ready to walk out of talks, while the opposition and many in business have been raising the alarm over the consequences of no agreement being reached with the EU. She said it would be “irresponsible” not to prepare for all scenarios after the UK leaves the EU in March 2019, arguing that whereas the Labour opposition was ready to accept a deal “at any price”… “we will not do that”.