Theresa May Begs Europe for Another Brexit Delay—This Time Until June 30
HELPLESS
The U.K.’s Brexit embarrassment isn’t ending any time soon. British Prime Minister Theresa May has written to the European Union to request yet another withdrawal delay. Britain was supposed to leave the bloc on March 29 but, after May’s repeated failure to persuade lawmakers to back her withdrawal deal, that date was postponed to April 12. But now she feels even that isn’t enough time and has written to European Council President Donald Tusk to request a further extension, to June 30. In her letter, May wrote: “The United Kingdom is seeking a further extension… [and] proposes that this period should end on 30 June 2019. If the parties are able to ratify before this date, the government proposes that the period should be terminated early.” However, Tusk is reportedly pushing for a much longer delay. He is said to want a year-long “flexible” extension with an option to leave earlier if the withdrawal deal is approved. He’s reportedly referred to it with the terrible word “flextension” and thinks it would avoid having to approve small Brexit delays every few weeks.