EUROPEAN leaders cast doubt on the likelihood of another Brexit extension on the eve of today’s crunch vote.
Emmanuel Macron of France and Ireland’s Leo Varadkar added to the pressure on MPs by suggesting the EU may not allow the UK more time to work out an alternative to Boris Johnson’s latest plan if parliament rejects it today.
MPs will meet at the House of Commons for the first weekend sitting in almost 40 years.
Dubbed “Super Saturday”, it follows the agreement of an updated withdrawal plan which includes a new protocol on Northern Ireland which has seen the DUP – key Tory allies – refuse their backing.
Under the Benn Act, Johnson is bound to request a fresh extension to the October 31 Brexit deadline if MPs reject the deal.
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Yesterday the French president said the EU would not grant a further delay to Article 50 without “some major changes”.
As a two-day leaders’ summit in Brussels ended, Macron told reporters: “I am not trying to read into the future but I do not think we shall grant any further delay. I think it is time to put an end to these negotiations and move on to the future relationship. And put to an end to what is currently ongoing.
“What matters is to stick to the commitment we made and the deadline we set ourselves. It is up to each and every one to make their own decisions.
“There shall be no delay unless there are major changes.”
Meanwhile, Varadkar said that while Ireland is “open” to the idea of an extension: “I don’t think any MP voting tomorrow should make the assumption that there would be unanimity for an extension.”
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And, moving to quash fears that the deal could make reunification of Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland more likely, he went on: “The Queen will still be the Queen, the pound will still be the pound, people will still post letters in Royal Mail red letterboxes.
“Northern Ireland will still be part of the United Kingdom and because of the Good Friday Agreement that’s protected until such a time, should that time ever arise, when the majority of people in Northern Ireland vote otherwise.”
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And, cautioning that the Commons vote is just one step on the road to finalising the Leave agreement, he said: “Bear in mind this has to be ratified by both the House of Commons and European Parliament, we can be pretty confident it will be ratified in the European Parliament, the House of Commons, we’ll see over the next couple of days.
“If the House of Commons does vote yes that will put us in a position to stand down our No-Deal preparations, but we won’t stop them entirely as there is always an outside chance something could go wrong.”
The comments on a possible Article 50 extension were in line with those made by European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker on Thursday.
While it is EU leaders, not Juncker, who would decide on any date change, he ruled out “any kind of prolongation” to the process, telling reporters that Brexit “has to be done now”.
Commenting after a brief meeting with Johnson, he said: “The British prime minister has to make sure that the deal will pass the hurdles of Westminster. I have to make sure it will pass the hurdles of the European Parliament.”
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At his press conference yesterday, Macron commented on Johnson’s handling of the issue currently dominating UK and European politics, saying: “He is who he is, but I think he is a real leader with real strategic thoughts and those who do not take him seriously are wrong and will continue to be wrong”.
Meanwhile, European Council President Donald Tusk revealed his opinion of the Tory leader when asked if his respect for the PM has now increased, Tusk replied: “I think it showed that Boris Johnson is really determined to finalise the deal no doubt. I have a different opinion about Brexit as such but I should say that Boris Johnson is surprisingly effective. Our assessment will be complete only after voting in the House of Commons.”
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