The U.K. will almost certainly get another Brexit extension — but don’t ask the EU to admit it.
In the meantime, officials in Brussels and other EU27 capitals will spend a few more weeks watching in horror — or, in some cases, with twisted pleasure — as British politicians tear each other apart in London.
Boris Johnson says he would rather end up “dead in a ditch” than do it, but a law that will reach the statute book Monday night will compel the U.K. prime minister to request an extension beyond Brexit’s current Halloween date, provided his aides don’t find a way around it. (Those in Brussels fearing no-deal are more worried about Johnson defying the law than an EU27 leader vetoing an extension request.)
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If Johnson surrenders to the law (rather than the police), he won’t necessarily need to come to Brussels in person: A written request, delivered by Ambassador Tim Barrow, just like the original Article 50 letter, might serve just as well, EU insiders said. But despite extreme frustration in the EU capital and across the EU27 with the Brexit mess in London, they have too much at stake to push the U.K. over the no-deal cliff.
Officially, the EU line on Brexit remains a strictly factual one: The 27 heads of state and government will consider an extension request if one is submitted by the British prime minister. The European Commission’s chief spokeswoman, Mina Andreeva, has also reiterated the EU’s long-standing position (unchanged since before the first two Brexit extension requests) that any delay must be for “a good reason.”
Source: Brussels can’t help but extend the Brexit horror show
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