Brexit: Parliament to blame for EU being in control, says minister Stephen Barclay

Jacob Jarvis10 April 2019
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Parliament is to blame for the European Union being in control of the Brexit process, Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay has said.

The Brexit minister pinned responsibility on the Commons when discussing the bloc having the upper hand in dictating terms on Britain's departure.

It is expected the EU27 will approve a delay to the Article 50 process at an emergency summit on Wednesday but one which is much longer than Theresa May wants.

She will ask for an extension until June 30 but European Council president Donald Tusk has suggested it be put off for a year.

Speaking to Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Barclay said he does not want to see Brexit postponed for that length of time and any delay should be subject to an earlier exit if terms can be agreed.

Stephen Barclay criticise Parliament when discussing the situation
EPA

He said: "I don't want to see a delay for up to a year.

"But, the key with any delay is we are able to terminate it once we ratify in order that we can then get on and get a deal through Parliament, ratify that agreement and leave the EU.

"And I think that is what the EU leaders want, it is what the Prime Minister wants."

He accused Parliament of "refusing to honour the result of the referendum" by failing to back Mrs May's deal or reach a majority on any alternative.

His remarks echo a speech made by Mrs May in Downing Street that angered MPs when she suggested Parliament had done everything it could to avoid making a decision on Brexit.

The EU must be unanimous on any extension decision, leaving Britain's fate squarely with the 27 other leaders.

Asked if the bloc is now in control, Mr Barclay said: "That is a consequence of Parliament, not the Government.

"The Government has agreed a deal with the EU. It is Parliament that has forced this on the Government."

Embattled: Prime Minister Theresa May
Jack Taylor/Getty Images

As well as these comments on the extension, Mr Barclay gave further detail on what might happen should the cross party Tory and Labour talks not find a compromise.

"If they fail, the Prime Minister has said that we will come back to Parliament and look at how we then get clarity on a vote," he said.

"One of the challenges there will be is how we have a stable majority to pass the legislation that would follow that vote.

"But, we would come back to Parliament and seek to get a consensus on the various options."

He suggested these votes would be binding as opposed to the indicative votes previously held.

His comments come ahead of Wednesday's crunch summit, where Mrs May will make her extension request and the EU leaders will have their say.

Her chances of a short extension look slim after Mr Tusk, in a letter to the heads of the 27 remaining member states, said there was "little reason to believe" that the ratification of Mrs May's beleaguered Brexit deal could be completed by the end of June.

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