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UK may delay Brexit if May’s deal rejected

March 04, 2019 00:00:00


Rory Stewart

LONDON, Mar 03 (Al Jazeera): Britain is likely to be forced into delaying its March 29 exit from the European Union if parliament rejects Prime Minister Theresa May's deal later this month, junior justice minister Rory Stewart told Sky News on Sunday.

May has promised to bring a revised deal back to parliament by March 12, and if legislators reject it they will be given an opportunity to vote to leave without a deal or to extend the Article 50 negotiating period.

"I think we would have to be forced into an extension of Article 50," Stewart said when asked which option he would choose if May's deal is rejected. "There doesn't seem to be parliamentary majority for 'no deal'."

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar also told Cabinet colleagues that a delay of Britain's exit date from the EU is "very likely", Ireland's Sunday Independent quoted an unnamed minister as saying.

"The Taoiseach (prime minister) has privately said to us that it is very likely there will be an extension until June," the minister was quoted as saying.


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