Theresa May in whistlestop tour to seek Brexit extension
PM will meet Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron as clock ticks down
Theresa May will hold last-minute Brexit talks with the leaders of Germany and France today, to urge them to back her request to delay Brexit again.
With four days to go before the UK is due to leave the European Union, the prime minister will meet Angela Merkel in Berlin, followed by Emmanuel Macron in Paris.
May is expected to urge her counterparts to accept her request for a delay until 30 June, despite indications from EU Council President Donald Tusk that a longer extension - going into next year - would be preferred by Brussels.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
May’s meeting with Merkel is “the latest of no fewer than five similar emergency meetings hosted by Merkel over the past three years since Britain’s EU referendum”, The Guardian says.
The Times describes Macron as “Europe’s bad cop” on the issue but predicts that he will “fall into line”.
Meanwhile at home, bilateral talks to seek a breakthrough on the domestic deadlock are also set to continue.
A Downing Street spokesperson said Tories were “committed to finding a way through in order to ensure we can leave the EU and deliver on the referendum”.
Labour said that both sides would seek to “attempt to secure a Brexit compromise” but Jeremy Corbyn has complained that the government has not yet indicated where it was prepared to make changes.
He added that his priorities were “a customs union with the EU, alignment with the single market and full dynamic alignment of workers' rights, environmental protections and consumer standards”.
Last night, in another significant evening in Parliament, MPs and peers approved legislation that puts a legal obligation on the prime minister to seek an extension from Brussels in order to avoid a no-deal exit on Friday.
How long that extension is remains to be seen. The EU insists that any exit date later than 22 May would require European parliament elections to be held in the UK.
Although the government insists publicly that it is committed to avoiding that outcome, yesterday Tory Chairman Brandon Lewis emailed all the party's candidates, admitting: “It is clear that we need to make contingency plans.”
This was met with fury by Brexiteers. Sir Bill Cash, a longstanding Tory eurosceptic, declared that “all over the country there is a firestorm about the fact we could be involved in European elections”.
Bob Seely MP said he wished the news was a "week-late April Fool's wind up".
The UK is currently due to leave the EU at 11pm on Friday.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
7 beautiful towns to visit in Switzerland during the holidays
The Week Recommends Find bliss in these charming Swiss locales that blend the traditional with the modern
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Werewolf bill
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
'This needs to be a bigger deal'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Cuba's energy crisis
The Explainer Already beset by a host of issues, the island nation is struggling with nationwide blackouts
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sweden clears final NATO hurdle with Hungary vote
Speed Read Hungary's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sweden's accession to NATO
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published