On the eve of the Brexit referendum in 2016, most serious analysts argued that the result of the referendum would be a coin flip.
Soon after, Article 50 of the European Union was triggered to start Brexit proceedings. Nearly two years later, as we fast approach the 29 March deadline to reach a final the European Union-United Kingdom deal, there is still no clarity about the future of UK in the EU.
Today, as we are just a few weeks away from the deadline, there seem to be three sides to the Brexit issue, including a united EU, a confused Labour Party leader, and Prime Minister Theresa May in complete disarray.
With just about a month away from Brexit, ThePrint takes a look at where each side stands.
Jeremy Corbyn
On Monday, Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn surprised everyone by announcing that the party now officially backs another referendum to beat the “Tory Brexit”.
The party will put forward its “5-point amendments” to Brexit Tuesday. In case the party MPs reject this, the Labour Party will push for another referendum.
For the past several months, Corbyn has been saying that he will support another referendum but his core demand has been another general election.
His decision to back a referendum comes after 8 pro-EU MPs left the party to form the new Independent group.
Theresa May
Without a doubt, May has managed to emerge as one of the most irresolute British PMs in post-war history. In her last attempts at brinksmanship, May has pushed the date for the final Brexit vote at the House of Commons to 12 March – just 17 days before the final deadline.
Following Corbyn’s decision, May continues to stick to her position saying that the final vote will happen on 12 March.
May’s hope is that by pushing the vote to the last moment, she might be able to use the fear of a ‘No Deal Brexit’ to gain support of some Eurosceptic MPs.
The European Union
Through the course of the past couple of years, the whole Brexit saga has managed to accomplish something unimaginable. For this entire period, all 27 member states in the EU have managed to hold a united front.
The European Council president Donald Tusk said that an extension to the 29 March deadline was the most likely outcome.
Speaking on the sidelines of the EU-Middle East Summit in Egypt, he said, “This is an objective fact – not our intention, not our plan – but an objective fact. I believe in the situation we are in, an extension would be a rational solution.”
What next?
Another referendum at such a short notice seems highly improbable. The next few weeks will tell us if the UK and EU opt for an extension. But if May does not change her mind yet again, the Brexit vote at the House of Commons on March 12 will be crucial.