The European Union is to offer the UK a flexible extension of up to a year to help it out of its Brexit deadlock, a senior EU source says.
That’s unless it can
A “Brexit flextension” — this tongue-twister of a proposal from Brussels will be its next attempt to break the deadlock, says a senior EU source.
A deeply divided Britain is scrambling to avoid ejecting from the European Union on April 12 without a deal.
So at an emergency summit next week, Donald Tusk, head of the European Council, could offer the UK a flexible extension of up to a year, though staying that long would mean participating in the EU elections in May — poison to Brexit supporters.
This is unless UK Prime Minister Theresa May can get elusive agreement on a withdrawal deal.
This week she’s even been discussing a compromise with her arch-rival…opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn.
“I welcome the prime minister’s offer.”
Labour party leader, Jeremy Corbyn
“I think there are actually a number of areas we agree on.”
British Prime Minister, Theresa May
The talks have sparked anger in both parties.
Two of May’s junior ministers resigned in protest on Wednesday.
Media reports claim as many as 15 ministers could quit in all.
Meanwhile many in Labour fear it’s a ruse to get their fingerprints all over the government’s Brexit fiasco.
May reached out to her opponents after her proposed deal was voted down three times in parliament.
The Labour Party wants to maintain tight trade relations with Europe in a customs union — a so-called “soft” Brexit.
Corbyn is under pressure from some in the party to get May to commit to holding a new referendum on any deal they agree.
Meanwhile, other lawmakers are working fast to stop a hard Brexit.
On Wednesday the House of Commons narrowly passed a bill forcing May to seek a delay to Britain’s exit to avoid the no-deal scenario.
But on Thursday, Brexiteers in the upper house — the Lords — tried to thwart it — using filibuster-style time-wasting tactics.
Plans to rush it through therefore failed; but the Lords are largely pro-EU and it’s expected to pass on Monday.
