LONDON (AP) Prime Minister Theresa May formally asked the European Union today to postpone Britains departure from the bloc due in nine days until June 30. But an exasperated EU said Britain would have to accept either a shorter delay or a much longer one.
In a letter to European Council President Donald Tusk, May said the Brexit process clearly will not be completed before 29 March, 2019 the date fixed in law two years ago for Britains departure.
She asked for a delay until June 30, and said she wanted to set out her reasons to EU leaders at a summit in Brussels on Thursday.
Opposition politicians, and pro-EU members of Mays Conservative government, had urged a longer extension, saying a delay of just a few months could leave Britain once again facing a cliff-edge no-deal Brexit this summer. Withdrawing without a deal could mean huge disruption for businesses and people in the U.K. and the 27 remaining EU countries.
But a long extension would infuriate the pro-Brexit wing of Mays divided party, and would require Britain to participate in May 23-26 elections for the European Parliament.
May said that would be unacceptable.
As prime minister I am not prepared to delay Brexit any further than June 30, she said in the House of Commons.
May said a longer delay would result in Parliament spending endless hours contemplating its navel on Brexit.
Any delay that required Britain to take part in European parliamentary elections would be a major headache for the bloc. Britain believes it would not have to participate if it got a three-month delay, because the newly elected European parliament is not due to convene until July.
But a leading European Commission official said a June 30 extension would cause legal uncertainty for the bloc.
The official, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the situation, said Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told May in a telephone call that the withdrawal has to be complete before May 23, the first day of the European elections.
The alternative would be for Britain to participate in the elections and accept a much longer delay, to the end of 2019 or beyond.
Britain voted in June 2016 to quit the EU, but almost three years later, its politicians are deadlocked over how and even whether to leave.
The only thing divided pro-Brexit and pro-EU politicians agree on is that they hate the Brexit deal May has struck with the bloc. Nor were they impressed by her move to delay.
Brexit-backing Conservative lawmaker Peter Bone said delaying Brexit would be betraying the British people.
If you continue to apply for an extension to Article 50 you will be betraying the British people.
Opposition Labour Party lawmaker Angela Eagle said May should stop banging her head against the brick wall of her defeated deal and seek cross-party support for a new Brexit strategy.
