Brexit: MPs face choice between PM's deal and no deal after Juncker rules out further extension

[Soph0571]

Source: The Guardian

Jean-Claude Juncker, the European commission president, has said the EU will not grant another Brexit extension.

This is hugely significant, because, if the rest of the EU27 agree - and it is not clear yet whether he is speaking on their behalf - it means MPs will effectively be faced with a choice between this deal and no deal.



Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2019/oct/17/eu-leaders-gather-for-summit-as-boris-johnson-scrambles-to-get-backing-for-brexit-deal-politics-live

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This is very very bad. The Boris deal stinks. I cannot see Parliament voting it through.
Crashing out with a no deal seems suddenly very likely indeed.

[Denzil_DC]

1. Even more confusion about this than usual in Brexit.

There's the question, as you say, of whether it's in Juncker's gift to make that decision - Barnier has made contrary noises.

Some are interpreting Juncker's remarks as saying there's no need for extension because they have a deal, rather than point blank saying there won't be one.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. BBC's Katya Adler twitter thread seems relevant:

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

ending:

"I can’t imagine Angela Merkel for example turning round + saying “no extra time” even if deal is rejected in HoC, there’s a general election or a referendum on this deal, for example
A flat no to the idea of an extension at this stage could mean ushering in the no deal Brexit that EU leaders have been so so so keen to avoid. It’s not a move you’d expect from the EU!"
ie Juncker would like this deal to succeed, so his term ends well, but that doesn't mean he can stop an extension - it's up to the country leaders. They would seem to be happy with this deal too, but would they really force 'no deal' if the Commons reject it?

[mwooldri]

3. Extension likely if there is a General Election or a Referendum.

Absent either of these, there won't be an extension. I believe this is in order to focus the minds of the UK MPs and make up their mind as to what to do.

[Polybius]

4. Those are huge ifs

There is basically no chance for either.

[nitpicker]

5. Update from The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/oct/18/brexit-extension-unavoidable-if-mps-reject-deal-says-merkel

Brexit extension unavoidable if MPs reject deal, says Merkel

Jennifer Rankin in Brussels

Fri 18 Oct 2019 10.26 BST

Angela Merkel has told EU leaders a Brexit extension would be unavoidable if MPs vote down the deal agreed with Boris Johnson.

During private EU summit talks on Brexit, the German chancellor told her fellow leaders they could not pretend an extension would not be offered to the UK if it was requested, according to a source familiar with the discussions.

Merkel framed Brexit as a historic issue weighing on the EU and said leaders had a responsibility not to push the UK out if there was a request for further delay.

Her remarks contrast with the public statement of Jean-Claude Juncker who said he was “ruling out” an extension. Although the outgoing commission president has no power to veto any delay, he said: “If we have a deal, we have a deal and there is no need for prolongation.”

In reality, the positions of Juncker and Merkel are much closer. Juncker, who has previously favoured long Brexit extensions, told EU leaders that talk of an extension was not helpful.
(snip)