Emmanuel Macron could force Britain to the brink of a no-deal Brexit by blocking a three month extension unless there was new political movement in Westminster.
Sources close to the French president said any delay beyond Thursday October 31 was ‘not a given’ without Labour and the House of Commons agreeing to a general election or ratifying Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal on Monday.
An Elysee official told The Times: ‘France wants a justified and proportionate extension.
‘However, we have nothing of the sort so far.’
By blocking the extension, the EU will be forced to prepare for an emergency summit on October 30. If the vote is approved, France is expected to agree to the January 31 ‘flextension’
EU member states met in Brussels yesterday to consider rubber stamping the UK’s request for the three-month delay, which Boris Johnson was forced into by MPs.
French president Emmanuel Macron wants to wait until after Monday’s Commons vote on whether to hold a general election in December
During what were described as a ‘lively’ exchange, France stood firm against the other 26 remaining member states and stopped any decision being taken.
One EU diplomat said: ‘It was a lively meeting. It was 26 vs 1. France was the only country that wouldn’t agree it. Other member states told them they were playing a very dangerous game. They were being very rigid and their strategy is risky and increases the chances of an accidental No Deal.’ A decision on the extension length may be taken as late as Tuesday morning – two days before the UK is due to leave.
But if Labour blocks it, France does not want an extension beyond November 30, to pressure MPs into a resolution.
Mr Macron is worried that a three-month delay will be wasted if an election does not take place and if Mr Johnson cannot get his deal through the Commons. A second EU diplomat said: ‘France was saying, “let’s wait until the UK clarifies its position concerning a general election”.
‘Other countries are saying, “let’s not get involved in internal UK politics”. There was a lot of frustration.’
Prime Minister Boris Johnson at Milton Keynes University Hospital. Mr Johnson was forced into asking for a delay until January 31 under the terms of the Benn Act
Member states are still aiming to grant an extension via ‘written procedure’ early next week. But if France does not fall into line by Tuesday morning, EU leaders may be forced to hold an eleventh-hour summit to thrash out a compromise – most likely on Wednesday night, the day before Brexit day on October 31.
A source yesterday said EU Council chief Donald Tusk, whose job it is to organise summits, has ‘no intention’ of calling a special summit and wants an extension agreed by member states via the written process.The idea behind the ‘flextension’ is that January 31 would be the maximum possible delay. But it could also end early if and when MPs pass the withdrawal bill, which would put Mr Johnson’s new Brexit deal into law.
Jeremy Corbyn pictured leaving his London home yesterday. By meddling with the request as laid out in the Act, Mr Johnson would be placed under a different set of obligations. But if January 31 is offered, he must agree to it
If they do, Britain could leave on the first day of the month after ratification. Boris Johnson said he would give MPs until around November 6 to debate his deal, allowing Britain to leave on December 1.
After briefing the member states yesterday, the bloc’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, who also argued in favour of the flexible January 31 deadline, said an ‘excellent’ discussion had taken place but confirmed that ‘no decision’ was reached.
A third diplomat from a major EU country said: ‘We hope we reach a consensus because if we don’t by Tuesday morning we have the high possibility of having a summit. As January 31 was what was asked for by the UK, the 26 countries said they could agree to it and that’s what would be best for avoiding an accidental No Deal, which a shorter delay raises the chances of.’
Mr Johnson was forced into asking for a delay until January 31 under the terms of the Benn Act.
The EU is worried that changing the terms of the delay request under the legislation and offering a shorter date could raise the risk of No Deal.
By meddling with the request as laid out in the Act, Mr Johnson would be placed under a different set of obligations. But if January 31 is offered, he must agree to it.
An EU Commission spokesman said: ‘The EU27 have agreed to the principle of an extension and work will now continue in the coming days. The intention is to take this decision by written procedure.’