Brexit Deadline Extended by EU Till January 31 Amid Rising Clamour For Snap General Elections in UK
European Union on Monday extended the Brexit deadline by three months. The deadline was extended to January 31, 2020. Earlier, the UK was to leave the EU on October 31. The EU has also given an option for the United Kingdom (UK) to leave earlier if a deal is ratified.
London, October 28: European Union on Monday extended the Brexit deadline by three months. The deadline was extended to January 31, 2020. The EU has also given an option for the United Kingdom (UK) to leave earlier if a deal is ratified. The meeting of European Ambassadors which was scheduled today lasted for 30-minutes. The president of the European Council said the EU27 had agreed to the request made by Boris Johnson. Brexit Delayed: British MPs Vote to Amend UK Govt's Motion, Direct Boris Johnson to Push October 31 Deadline.
Tusk tweeted, “The EU27 has agreed that it will accept the UK's request for a #Brexit flextension until 31 January 2020. The decision is expected to be formalised through a written procedure.” As per terms and conditions of the extension, the UK can leave the EU on the first day of any of those months if the withdrawal agreement was ratified. The EU also said that it would not renegotiate the withdrawal agreement.
Donald Tusk's Tweet:
Meanwhile, opposition parties on Sunday proposed an even earlier election date than the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has offered. The Liberal Democrats and Scottish National Party said that they would back general election in the UK on December 9 if no deal on October 31 was “taken off the table”, reported The Guardian. Brexit: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson Says 'Got Great New Deal With European Union'.
The Labour Party is adamant that it will not back an election unless the government assures that the UK would not go forward with Brexit on January 31. However, Conservative Party chair James Cleverly dismissed the new election proposal as "clearly a gimmick" designed to delay Brexit because it only moves the election date ahead three days.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 28, 2019 04:13 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).