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High level EU official tells me the PM is « wily »with her three day vote plan for mid March. Says with her timetable she’s turning up pressure on Brexiteers, Labour and the EU too /1
EU now can’t wait till 21 March summit to make offer on backstop in attempt to stop PM coming back for more. Will now have to make an ‘offer’ in time for 12 March meaningful vote /2
EU + UK sources say they’re in same ‘landing zone’ on backstop. EU knows MP’s want legally-binding assurances UK won’t end up ‘trapped’ in backstop customs union with EU. BUT same problem remains: EU happy to make clarifications, resisting introducing changes eg get-out clause /3
No one sure majority of MPs will buy the backstop assurances on 12 March, fuelling increasing speculation on extension of UK leaving process. NB All 27 EU leaders have to unanimously approve a UK request to extend /4
France’s Finance Minister said this afternoon the PM would have to outline the purpose of an extension of parliament voted for one /5
Like the PM, EU leaders would prefer a short extension - if any at all - designed to finalise a #Brexit deal that was almost there. They want to be free of the Brexit process by time of European parliamentary elections at end of May /6
EU leaders insist a lengthier extension would mean the UK having to field MEPs in election to European Parliament and would only be granted in the case of dramatic change to uk political landscape - eg general elex, second referendum or the PM resigning her position /7
In reality though, EU leaders will be tempted to accept any extension to article 50 process if the alternative is a no deal #Brexit /8
