Midnight crisis: EU leaders offer two new Brexit delay deadlines
European leaders debated late into last night in a bid to avert a no-deal Brexit on 29 March, with negotiators agreeing to give Theresa May one last shot at getting her deal through parliament.
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The Prime Minister travelled to Brussels yesterday to make a direct plea to delay the date of the UK’s departure from the EU to 30 June.
Just before midnight in Brussels, the EU confirmed it was only prepared to offer the UK an extension until 22 May – the day before elections to the European Parliament – and only if MPs finally pass May’s deal next week.
If the deal fails again, an extension until 12 April could be offered – during which time parliament would have to agree on a new approach. Last night, May said she would “work hard” to win support for her deal among MPs, conceding that if she failed “we would either leave with no deal or put forward an alternative plan”.
European Council president Donald Tusk said that while the 29 March “cliff-edge” would be delayed, any extension beyond 12 April would necessitate the UK’s participation in EU parliamentary elections – something the PM has described as unthinkable.
Despite the intense diplomatic efforts to avoid a no-deal departure, officials in Westminster have ramped up their preparations for such an outcome, with the Ministry of Defence triggering plans for a military command team to be based in a Whitehall bunker.
Known as Operation Redfold, military chiefs would coordinate 3,500 troops from the site, to implement contingency plans in the case of a no-deal Brexit.
The troops could be used to bring fuel, food and other goods into the country, and to assist with customs checks at borders.
While May was in Brussels negotiating the extension to the Brexit process, MPs in Westminster were dealing with the fallout from her controversial address to the nation on Wednesday night, in which she blamed parliament for the impasse.
The content of the speech was criticised by Conservative and Labour MPs, with former Tory education minister Sam Gyimah labelling the attack on the House of Commons as “toxic”.
At a press conference last night, May said her controversial Downing Street statement was born out of “frustration”, and said “I know MPs are frustrated, too”.
Read more: Theresa May told to change path on Brexit by industry and union leaders
In a rare move, the CBI and TUC yesterday issued a joint letter calling for May to devise a plan B to end the risk of a no-deal Brexit.