Timing is ticking for the UK as April 12 Brexit day is approaching quickly. The talks between Prime Minister Theresa May and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn yielded no results so far. Labour’s top legal policy chief Shami Chakrabarti complained that May has not moved “an inch” on her “red lines”. And, “it’s hard to imagine that we are going to make real progress now without either a general election or a second referendum on any deal she can get over the line in parliament.”
May, on the other hand, said in a video, apparently shot by shaky hands, that “ending free movement, ensuring we leave with a good deal, protecting jobs, protecting security” are things the Conservatives and Labour could agree on. And, she added “it’ll mean compromise on both sides” but “delivering Brexit is the most important things for us”.
With no cross-party agreement in sight yet, May would need EU’s approval on her request for extension until June 30 to avoid a no-deal Brexit. Comments from EU officials suggested that they’re against another short extension with no clear and substantial developments in UK. Even the idea of “flextension” was not accepted by all. Some expected that the most likely outcome of the EU summit this week is for May to come out with a long extension. But that will very likely infuriate hard-line Brexiteers in the Conservative Party.
