Brexit - What If?

[Arrods]

The PM swallows his pride, sends the extension request to Brussels and it's refused (as one French minister has opined). What then?

[Mozz71]

No deal Noel.

[1ozzy]

The French minister should know

[Old_Geezer]

Then we leave as per the default.
But no one can trust the EU to be that sensible/reasonable. It's not in them.
Still; ironic if Macron saved the day.

[ichkeria]

The EU will grant an extension, because by the PM’s logic they are so desperate to avoid a No Deal they’ll agree to anything :-)
Of course in reality it’s likely to force Johnson all the more to try to get a deal, as he is probably finished politically if we do not leave on or just after Oct 31.

[Old_Geezer]

I'm unconvinced about that since he'd not have had any control. When the system allows the opposition to take control of proceedings and pass legislation that ties the government's hands then we have a farcical situation that ought not arise. Binding actions are arguably not a valid thing to allow. A GE might sort things out, but who knows ? It will depends on who make agreements with who which will affect the final outcome.

[Zacs-Master]

His ‘dead in a ditch’ comment surely means he will never swallow his pride. If the bill is passed to override his position then I think his political career is over.

[dannyk13]

He has said that in order to get Brexit he will break the law and refuse to ask for an extension.

[dannyk13]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7437383/Boris-Johnson-urged-Brexit-martyr-suggesting-break-law-force-No-Deal.html

[Arrods]

OK, I appreciate my question was rhetorical - and it's now unlikely we'll leave the EU. Brussels has had enough wake-up calls in recent times wouldn't you think they'd realise that it's time to reform this awful, to put it mildly, organisation? But there I go again, posing a rhetorical question.

[douglas9401]

I suppose he could go back to spinning bow tie and massive shoes mode, it's got him this far.
Looks like it might be the limit though, some very devious people have played an exceedingly long game to humiliate the posh bully and maybe drive him from public life.

[gulliver1]

Please can I dig the ditch. I will not need any payment , I will do it for free, for the odious little slimeball.

[retrocop]

Gulliver has reached rock bottom and has started to dig. :-)

[HansUrbancka]

If Boris fails to get agreement next Monday for a General election, it is tantamount to the opposition giving his government a vote of Confidence.

Hans.

[Gromit]

Not sure why the EU would refuse, I suspect they will extend to Jan 31.

If they do not, I reckon last minute Johnson will be removed by the House of Commons. He now has a minus 45 majority. And the new interim leader will actually have a plan that the EU will listen to and grant us more time to vote for in the Commons. It might even be May’s deal with the sticky points removed. We will leave on 31st October, and then the proper talks begin.

[ichkeria]

May’s final deal was never voted on and I believe under the terms of the new Bill it has to be at least published.

Other options for Johnson (he won’t defy the law I’ll tell you that now: it would create a precedent for chaos):
He could try to get UK expelled from the EU by refusing to appoint a new commissioner tho I can see that being very messy.
He could try to pass an election Bill which would only need a straight majority to pass: the other vote presumably will not be held now as plainly a waste of time.
Or he could sack Cummings and start being reasonable: put his or the existing deal back to Parliament and do his utmost to build bridges to the Labour MPs whose votes he needs to get a deal passed, rather than alienating his opponents. Also carry through his threat to suspend the whip from the Brexit ultras if they defy him. He’d be doing the Tory party and all of us a favour if that happened.
In other words try his damnedest to get a workable solution.

[Gromit]

The Rumour Mill says he is considering retiring if his election call is rejected. He has managed to paint himself into a corner, and split the party. He still has friends, but many enemies. It is difficult to see how he can carry on without breaking the law, or surrendering.

I would favour a National Government like we had in the thirties and forties comprised of the Opposition and Conservative Parties to rule until Jan 31st 2020, if the EU grant that extension.

[dannyk13]

Gromit, If they are not asked they won't grant an extension.Link at 09.14.

[gulliver1]

I will also fill the ditch in after for him , also free of charge for the slime ball, bring it on.

[jim360]

There will be a small window between the refusal of the request and the 31st October. Who knows what Parliament would do with that time? I expect they'd have to give serious thought to revoking Article 50 notification -- it's the only thing consistent with the refusal to countenance a No Deal exit. But what a short-lived victory for Remain that would be.

[mushroom25]

//I would favour a National Government //

who would you favour to lead it?