UK Parliament is set to vote on no-deal Brexit today at 1900GMT, which will likely be rejected. Then there will be another vote tomorrow for seeking Article 50 extensions. Responses from the EU so far are not very positive regarding an extension.
The European Parliament’s lead Brexit spokesman Guy Verhofstadt warned that he would oppose to even 24-hour extension. He said ” I am against every extension, whether an extension of one day, one week, even 24 hours, if it is not based on a clear opinion of the House of Commons for something, that we know what they want.” Verhofstadt also warned that “An extension, where we go beyond the European elections, and the European elections will be hijacked by the Brexiters, and by the whole Brexit issues. We will talk only about that, and not about the real problems, and the real reforms we need in the European Union.”
EU chief Brexit negotiator repeated his question that “extend this negotiation — what for?” And he reiterated that “if the UK still wants to leave the EU in an orderly manner, this treaty is — and will remain — the only treaty possible”. Barnier also told the European parliament that “We are at a critical point. The risk of no-deal has never been higher. That is the risk of an exit – even by accident – by the UK from the EU in a disorderly fashion. I urge you please not to under-estimate the risk or its consequences.”
