May flies to Brussels – yet again

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar welcoming EU President Donald Tusk in Dublin Tuesday. RollingNews.ie photo

 

By Anthony Neeson

British Prime Minister Theresa May heads to Brussels on Thursday just days after she was unable to bring her Brexit deal back to the House of Commons for a crucial vote.

Commons speaker John Bercow ruled out Mrs. May bringing her deal back before MPs, saying he couldn’t allow a third “meaningful vote” on the same motion that has previously been rejected twice by MPs.

When May arrives in Brussels it’s expected that she will ask for Brexit to be postponed. The UK is meant to leave the European Union on March 29 – next week.

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With MPs unable to ratify May’s deal with the EU because of the Irish backstop it’s believed that only an extension to Brexit will stop Britain crashing out of the EU without a deal.

In recent days the British government has been holding talks with Northern Ireland’s DUP to try and convince them to support May, while some Tory Brexiteers, fearful that Brexit may be delayed, or not happen at all, have started to show a willingness to compromise and come in behind the government.

On Tuesday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar met European President Donald Tusk in Dublin.

A statement released after the meeting said: “An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar met with the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk at Government Buildings in Dublin today to discuss the state of play and latest developments with Brexit.

“President Tusk expressed the strong and ongoing solidarity with Ireland to the European Council and European leaders.

“They agreed that we must now see what proposals emerge from London in advance of the European Council meeting in Brussels on Thursday.

Following their meeting with the British government, a DUP spokesperson said there were still issues that needed to be addressed.

“We are in discussions with the government to ensure Northern Ireland is not separated out from the rest of the United Kingdom as we leave the European Union. Contrary to reports, we are not discussing cash.”

 

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