On Monday, the European Union agreed to grant the UK a three-month extension to withdraw from the bloc. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is trying to get the parliament’s nod for an early election to be held in mid-December.
While the current Brexit deadline is set for October 31, Members of Parliament (MPs) still debate on how and when the withdrawal should take place. The parliament has constantly opposed Johnson’s recently agreed Brexit deal, forcing him to ask European leaders for another delay, something which he pledged never to request.
Today, the European ambassadors have met in Brussels and decided to offer another extension until January 31, 2020. The UK can leave earlier if the parliament manages to ratify Johnson’s deal with the EU earlier than that.
According to a British legislation passed recently, the PM is obliged to accept the EU’s delay offer. Nevertheless, Johnson repeatedly said he didn’t personally endorse any extension.
Previously, the UK’s divorce has been delayed on two occasions – from March 29 and April 12 of this year, when Theresa May failed to obtain the parliament’s approval for her deal.
Now Johnson is pushing for an early election in the hope that his Conservative Party will obtain more seats to break the Brexit deadlock.