Brexit deal could go down to Halloween wire after No10 admitted that one may not be done by this week’s EU summit deadline
A BREXIT deal could go down to the October 31 wire after No10 admitted for the first time that one may not be done by this week’s EU summit deadline.
A meeting of Europe’s 28 leaders in Brussels on Thursday is the last moment to agree an exit package before a law by MPs to delay our EU exit by three months kicks in.
Lowering expectations ahead of it, the PM’s official spokesman said: “We want to make progress at the council.”
If there is no deal in place by the end of the summit, Mr Johnson faces a titanic battle with Parliament to overturn the law that will see UK membership extended until January 31.
Ongoing negotiations in Brussels were “more positive”, one said, as the No10 source dubbed the EU “in deal mode now”.
The next 36 hours of the talks are deemed crucial to crack a solution for the two outstanding issues of customs and consent.
No10 insisted there would still be time to pass the Withdrawal Act through Parliament if negotiations slip into next week — as they’ll force MPs to work through the night.
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The PM’s official spokesman added: “The public would expect we work round the clock in order to pass that legislation in time for October 31.”
Irish PM Leo Varadkar’s deputy Simon Coveney raised the prospect of an emergency EU Council next week — but only if the UK compromises further.
It came amid talk of a fudge that would see leaders sign off on a political deal before the 31st but leave the technical details for later.
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