UK could still be tied to EU rules at next general election
2 min read
Britain could still be tied to the EU’s rules by the time of the next general election, it has been confirmed.
Changes to the Brexit withdrawal agreement mean the UK could still be in the so-called “transition period” by the end of 2022 - more than six years after the EU referendum.
That is despite Theresa May insisting that she wants to be out of the temporary arrangement by the time of the next election, which is due in May, 2022.
At the moment, the transition period - during which the UK will still be in the customs union and single market - is due to end on 31 December, 2020.
UK and European negotiators had failed to finalise the details of how long any one-off extension to it could run when finalising the withdrawal agreement.
It has now emerged that the final wording of the 585-page document says: “The joint committee may, before 1 July 2020, adopt a single decision extending the transition period for up to one or two years.”
A spokesman for the Prime Minister insisted that did not rule out Mrs May’s preference of it being ended in time for the next election.
He also pointed out that any extension to the transition period would need to be agreed by Parliament.
“It gives us the option of up to one year or up to two years,” he said. “The Prime Minister said very clearly that it’s important that this is brought to an end by the time of the general election. This obviously provides for that.
“What I would also say is this is a decision for Parliament. Parliament will decide whether it wants to extend the implementation period and how it wishes to do that. It will be a sovereign decision.”
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