Tusk says he will urge EU leaders to back long extension to article 50 if UK cannot agree Brexit pla

[Denzil_DC]

1. I don't think May's ever used the word "long" in relation to an Article 50 extension.

I don't think she'd dare at this point, even as a parliamentary bargaining ploy, as the hardline Brexiteers are shrieking loudly enough about the prospect of "betrayal" as it is. "Short" and "technical" have been her buzzwords.

Depending how hard people have been listening, there's a perception of mixed messaging coming from the EU leadership. Here's Verhofstadt yesterday:

Link to tweet

Martin MacDonald @Innealadair

Guy Verhofstadt at the European Parliament Plenary session today. Worth watching for two reasons:
1. He has a real go at Nigel Farage
2. He does not, repeat not, want an extension to Article 50 unless the UK can come up with a very, very good reason for it.

The arguments for a longer extension, rather than the brief one May thinks is necessary even if her deal gets passed next time it's up for the vote, were covered here:

Brexit could be delayed until 2021, EU sources reveal
https://www.democraticunderground.com/108815360

Any extension beyond the EU elections means the UK would have to take part. Word is that the Tories are already gearing up for the possibility.

Meanwhile, Farage, who thinks he and whatever party he's managed to cobble together by then would do very well in such an election, Arron Banks and several Brexiteer Tory MPs have been sucking up to right-wing European leaders of countries like Hungary, Poland and Italy, trying to encourage them to veto any extension.

So much for UK parliamentary sovereignty, huh?