Leadsom: Brexit date could be pushed back by more extra weeks

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The date Britain leaves the European Union (EU) could be pushed back by a couple of weeks to give time for legislation to be approved by lawmakers, the leader of Britain's lower house of parliament said, the most senior figure to make such a suggestion.

Parliament will now vote on a series of amendments on Tuesday with the UK facing its deepest political crisis in half a century as it grapples with how, or even whether, to exit the European block it joined in 1973.

“We can get the legislation through and I think we do, in spite of everything, have a very strong relationship with our EU friends and neighbors and I am absolutely certain that if we needed a couple of extra weeks or something then that would be feasible,” Andrea Leadsom told the BBC.

Britain's Leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom arrives for the weekly cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street in London, January 22, 2019. /VCG Photo

“It doesn't necessarily mean that. I think we would want to think carefully about it. But as things stand I do feel that we can get, with the support of both Houses - the House of Commons and the House of Lords - with goodwill and a determination we can still get the legislation through in good time,” Leadsom said in response to the idea of extending the two-year Article 50 negotiation period.

On the other hand, a spokeswoman at Prime Minister Theresa May's No. 10 Downing Street office said the government's position had not changed.

“We are not considering an extension to article 50 and are committed to doing whatever it takes to have the statute books ready for when we leave the EU on March 29 this year.”

But Brexit continues to divide Britain's ruling Conservatives.

Queen urges Britain to find common ground as Brexit crisis deepens

What's next with Brexit?

Leadsom told The Sunday Times that “taking no deal off the table has been used as a thinly veiled attempt to stop Brexit.” However, Junior Defense Minister Tobias Ellwood said a no-deal outcome must be ruled out.

“It is wrong for government and business to invest any more time and money in a no-deal outcome which will make us poorer, weaker and smaller in the eyes of the world,” he was quoted as saying.

Britain, the world's fifth largest economy, is due to leave the EU on March 29 but May's negotiated exit deal was rejected by lawmakers, leaving open the possibility of a disorderly no-deal Brexit.

(Cover: Britain's Leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom leaves from 10 Downing Street in central London, December 18, 2018. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): Reuters