Can the UK extend article 50?

[Thinkinghappythoughts]

There is lots of talk of delaying Brexit beyond 29th March. Either parliament voting for it or TM needing to if she gets the withdrawal bill through.

But - doesn't the EU need to agree to this? I thought that it's not a decision that can be made by the UK. I also thought that there needed to be a proper reason, like a general election or another referendum. Not just organisational incompetence by the government. They have had two years and wasted a good bit of it fighting. They are still at it now.

Is it possible that TM says "hang on we need another (say) 6 months" and the EU says "tough luck you were given lots of warning (in fact you decided the deadline) - good bye"? And it will be no deal?

We have to ask. The media reports suggest we would be pushing at an open door but I think it needs to be for a specific reason.

Your right, the idea that we can just refuse to have no deal and put Bexit on hold for a while so parliament can make up their mind is just daft.
There's little or no chance the other EU countries would agree to that and as you say it would have to be for a very specific reason - 2nd referendum or general election. I'm amazed at these 3 cabinet ministers think this is a good idea. They just sound a bit dim, but then of course they are remainers and I expect this is just a pretext to revoking A50 and stopping Brexit all together.

Pretty sure Juncker said in January that they were amenable to extending it to the end of July, if the UK wants.

TM is diabolical. How much time has she wasted? Delaying the vote for her deal for a month even when she knew it was never going to get through. And now what is she doing? The deal was voted down on over a month ago but nothing has been done!!!! She needs to be tried for criminal incompetence if no deal is the outcome

I think they would extend for 4 reasons:

1. Referendum
2. General Election
3. Removal of red lines
4. WA already approved by Parliament but extra time needed to get all other related legislation through.

Thenumberfaker - What do you mean removal of red lines?

Changing completely to the Labour position?

If the parliamentary vote is now going to be in mid March, there isn't time to get the necessary legislation through by 29th. Therefore it will need to be extended.

I get that it needs to be extended but if it is extended once it will need to extended again and again. Like an alcoholic who always needs to have his overdraft extended to pay his bills.

The EU know this. Are they going just say no and it'll be no deal? On the other hand the EU are talking about a 2 year extension to avoid exactly this scenario. The leavers will go mad.

The UK can unilaterally call the whole thing off forever.

Delay/Extension would require the unanimous agreement of all the member states.

Not necessarily the Labour position. Removing May’s red lines would allow for a different WA to be made.