Brexit extension still possible, says Tusk as MPs prepare to vote on Johnson’s deal
Boris Johnson meeing Donald Tusk during the G7 summit in Biarritz, France. Tusk has recently reminded the government that a Brexit extension is still possible. Picture: Andrew Parsons/PA Wire/PA Images - Credit: PA Wire/PA Images
Donald Tusk has reminded MPs that a Brexit extension is still on the table as they prepare for a Commons showdown on Boris Johnson's new deal.
Two crucial votes will determine whether the prime minister will be able to live up to his "do or die" commitment to take the UK out of the European Union by the October 31 deadline.
French president Emmanuel Macron and EU chief Jean-Claude Juncker have both applied pressure on MPs with hints that Johnson's deal is the last and that any further delay may not be granted.
WATCH: Jean-Claude Juncker says he will not give his backing to an extension of Article 50Following this, the first ministers of Wales and Scotland Mark Drakeford and Nicola Sturgeon wrote to European Council president Tusk and other European leaders to consider the extension request, including leaving enough time for a second referendum.
MORE: Scottish and Welsh leaders write to EU to push for a proper Brexit extensionTusk has now suggested another extension to Article 50 could be granted as he consults EU leaders over the requested delay and MPs prepare to debate the Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB).
"It is obvious that the result of these consultations will very much depend on what the British parliament decides, or doesn't decide," he said in a speech at the council on Tuesday.
"We should be ready for every scenario. But one thing must be clear: as I said to prime minister Johnson on Saturday, a no-deal Brexit will never be our decision."
You may also want to watch:
Most Read
- 1 Leave EU website suspended after EU registry blocks move to Ireland
- 2 Priti Patel fails to appear in Commons to answer questions on missing police records
- 3 Boris Johnson blames seafood companies for post-Brexit sales slump
- 4 The Tory MPs who failed to vote against a Universal Credit cut
- 5 Comedian wins praise after shaming No 10 during Dancing on Ice appearance
- 6 Iain Duncan Smith defends calling Donald Trump 'a decent man'
- 7 The bigot we should have called out on day one
- 8 Tory minister admits UK rejected EU's music visa offer in order to 'take back control' of borders
- 9 Kwasi Kwarteng confirms post-Brexit review of workers' rights
- 10 Progressive alliance could see Labour win 351 seats at next election, new analysis reveals
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.
