Even if Theresa May’s deal wins a majority in the commons, an extension will still be necessary
Phillip Hammond has said that it is now ‘physically impossible for the UK to leave the European Union on March 29, explaining that an extension will be required even if the prime minister’s deal wins a majority in the commons this week.
Speaking on The Andrew Marr Show, the Chancellor of the Exchequer said: “If the Prime Minister’s deal is able to muster a majority this week and get through, then we will need a short extension [of Article 50].
“It is now physically impossible to leave on the 29th March, but we’d be able to leave very soon… But if we are unable to do that… then we will have to look at a longer extension, and we’re in uncharted territory. I can’t tell you how long.”
Reports have suggested that the withdrawal agreement that Theresa May has agreed with the EU will be put to the house for a third time this week, having failed to gain enough support thus far. Hammond explained that the goverment will only put it forward again if they are confident that it has enough support within the house to pass.
“We will only bring the deal back if we are confident that enough of our colleagues and the DUP are prepared to support it,” he said.
Will there definitely be a third "meaningful vote" on #Brexit next week? #Marr asks Chancellor Philip Hammond https://t.co/lJpkUkMdDC pic.twitter.com/H1mgUluItC
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) March 17, 2019
“But what’s happened since last Tuesday is that a significant number of colleagues… have changed their view on this, and decided that the alternatives are so unpalatable to them that they on reflection think that the Prime Minister’s deal is the best way to deliver Brexit.”
Labour are expected to table an amendment to the deal this week, calling for a ‘public confirmation vote’, allowing the electorate the opportunity to have their say on Theresa May’s deal. To all intents and purposes, it’s a second referendum, although it’s not clear how many options would be on the ballot paper and whether Remain would be one of them.
