Under enough heat, atoms start to fly apart. Such is the state of Britain's political parties as Brexit day approaches
heat, atoms start to fly apart. Such is the state of Britain’s political parties as Brexit day approaches. Theresa May, the Conservative prime minister, has long insisted that Britain will leave the European Union on March 29th, deal or no deal. This week she conceded that Parliament would be allowed to request more time after all. Meanwhile Jeremy Corbyn, who has been resisting calls from Labour members to back a second referendum, said it was now the party’s policy to support one.
The about-turns show the extent to which both leaders have lost control of their own Brexit policies, and their parties . Their change of direction is welcome. Labour’s reluctant backing of a second vote has many strings attached, but Mr Corbyn has at last conceded the principle that the public should have the right to approve or reject any deal.
Yet no one should get too excited. This week’s developments do not get rid of the cliff edge towards which Britain is heading—they only push it back, and not very far. Mrs May said that the Article 50 talks could be extended only to the end of June at the latest. That would buy just another three months.
A long extension would carry risks. Some Tories are itching to topple Mrs May; if they did, her replacement might turn out to be even harder to deal with. And if Britain remained in thebeyond the end of June then it might be legally obliged to take part in this spring’s European Parliament elections, which it is not currently scheduled to do.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
What would a no-deal Brexit mean for immigration?EU citizens already living in Britain would be left with fewer rights
Read more »
EU calls Brexit delay 'rational' as Labour moots new referendumThe EU has been watching with growing alarm the possibility that Britain will crash out of the bloc without a deal, risking chaos on both sides of the Channel.
Read more »
Theresa May Paves Way for Vote in Parliament on Delaying BrexitPrime Minister Theresa May will allow parliament to vote on delaying the U.K.’s exit from the EU if lawmakers reject her divorce agreement, greatly reducing the possibility of an exit without a deal.
Read more »