Monday Brexit

In a sane world, and under normal circumstances, it would have become obvious by now that a substantial extension to the A50 was essential.

But this is not a sane world and these are not normal circumstances.

It seems that the UK is preparing to ask the EU for an extension of two months, until the end of May, of the A50 process.

But, this only works if the WA is ratified by the UK before the middle of April, as then the EU Parliament rises and will not sit until the beginning of July. This is important as the EU Parliament needs to ratify the WA too, once the EU27 and the UK have. So far the EU27 have, and so for them the WA is closed. All is needed is for the UK Parliament to ratify.

All.

A small word.

Anyway, an extension of two months would only give May two additional weeks to get the WA through Parliament, so to then pass it to the EU for final ratification.

But the message on this isn’t getting through.

May won’t even admit she has enquired about an extension, lest it raise hackles in the ERG, but instead said that it came up at dinner last night.

The EU say that the extension is now rational, but not a request. By implication then, May's course is not rational. Mad.

Amendments are being prepared for the Commons to consider to force May to request an extension if no ratification happens before 12 March. If MPs don’t take this opportunity to take control, then they never will. This is really the last chance to assert Parliamentary superiority over the Government.

They blinked on all previous occasions, and probably will this time.