1bn dollar question: will they? Key problem throughout the whole "negotiation" (it really isn't one, EU offers and UK must chose) is that UK doesn't accept it's lack of power. It pretends and insists of being treated as an equal. /1
This is to EU a problem, it delays the inevitable from their point of view. Hoping for a Corbyn government isn't on their plan, since it would presumably ask for the same degree of exceptions (just with focus on different areas than Tories). /2
The question here would be how to make sure that - regardless of who is in charge - HMG accepts the power imbalance and behaves (also in the near future) accordingly. Extension might not help to solve that but prolongs delusion of equality in this unequal relationship. /3
Simply b/c there has been nothing yet, what visibly shatters & undermines this belief. No deal 4 some time (& if it is just for few days) might b a valuable option: few days of utter chaos on all frontiers ((geo)political, sociall, y, securitywise and economically) might help. /4
Depending on the magnitude of the blow it could be used to shatter the believe that UK "will be fine". In that case, concession could be easier and faster extracted by EU. /5
I don't say that this is a great way of approaching the negotiation, but it might be worthwhile discussing the risk that this approach is taken. You might argue that this intoxicate the relationship between UK/EU. /6
But it would be fast and agreements would be lasting if basic character of this relationship (EU as the powerful & dominant one in the room) can b sustained. It'd always come w/ resistance but there are more pressing problems at the time and a fast solution might have merits. /7
In any case, I would not be too sure that no deal couldn't be used to push UK into submission. Ultimate goal is a lasting relationship (on whatever grounds) respecting EU's red lines and avoiding "unfair" competition (establishing playground). That could be a strategy. 8/8
