Brexit limbo could last until AFTER the 2022 election in defiance of Theresa May’s promise any extension would only last for ‘months’ in 2021
- A tweak today has confirmed the scope of the possible extension to transition
- Divorce deal now says transition extension could go ‘one or two years’ long
- Transition was supposed to end on December 31, 2020, but could be longer
- A final decision on whether to extend is due to be made in the summer of 2020
Brexit limbo could be extended beyond the next election in 2022 in defiance of Theresa May’s promise it would not go longer than a few months into 2021, it emerged today.
The Brexit transition period is due to end for the first time on December 31, 2020 – but it emerged in September it could be extended if the final trade deal is not ready.
The first draft of the divorce treaty last week said the one-off extension could go no longer than the year ’20XX’ – but the text now says ‘up to one or two years’.
The first draft last week said the one-off extension could go no longer than the year ’20XX’ – but the text now says ‘up to one or two years’ (pictured)
Earlier this week Mrs May told MPs: ‘From my point of view, I think it is important in delivering for the British people that we are out of the implementation period before the next general election.’
Mrs May’s official spokesman said the ‘key point’ was the phrase ‘up to’ and insisted the PM was clear transition should be over by the election.
He said: ‘This will be a decision for Parliament. Parliament will decide whether it wants to extend the implementation period.’
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A tweak to the divorce deal today has clarified how the optional extension to the Brexit transition period will work.
The extension can only be done with the consent of both sides and a decision to use it must be taken by the summer of 2020.
Extending transition is expected to cost up to £10billion a year in EU subscriptions but is a possible way of avoiding using the controversial Irish border backstop.
Mrs May has justified inventing the mechanism on the grounds extending the transition – which effectively keeps Britain inside EU rules – for a few months to finalise the trade deal is preferable to businesses making two sets of changes.
Any extension to Brexit transition is hated by Brexiteers and the prospect of it going as long as the end of 2022 will produce a furious backlash.
Earlier this week Mrs May (pictured in Downing Street today) told MPs: ‘From my point of view, I think it is important in delivering for the British people that we are out of the implementation period before the next general election.
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