UK government's refusal to consider Brexit extension is ‘reckless’ and ‘irresponsible’

The UK government’s refusal to consider an extension to the Brexit process represents a “reckless” and “irresponsible” stance, given the “unprecedented economic crisis” sparked by the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a leading EU think tank.

Prime minister Boris Johnson has been urged to seek an extension to the Brexit transition period.

Experts at the European Policy Centre said the contagion had not only impacted on the practicalities of the talks surrounding the UK’s departure from the EU, but had rendered it “extremely difficult” for both sides to move beyond technical negotiations given the demands of responding to the outbreak.

Fabian Zuleeg and Jannike Wachowiak from the European Policy Centre said that the prospect of the UK leaving the transition period without a future free trade agreement deal in place “could not come at a worse time,” and stressed that even a managed ‘no deal’ scenario “will create immense uncertainty for businesses and have severe economic consequences.”

The warning comes in a letter to MSPs on Holyrood’s culture, tourism, Europe, and external affairs committee ahead of their latest meeting tomorrow.

The transition period is due to end on 31 December unless the UK asks for a prolongation by 30 June. The maximum extension would be two years, under the terms of the withdrawal agreement.

In their letter, Mr Zuleeg and Ms Wachowiak wrote: “The UK’s outright refusal to discuss an extension seems therefore reckless.

“No matter what one’s hopes are for the future relationship, an outright refusal to contemplate an extension in face of a far- reaching and unprecedented economic crisis is irresponsible.”

The committee has also received written evidence from Professor Chris Grey, head of the department of human resource management and organisation studies at Royal Holloway, University of London, who said an extension to the transition period - ideally for a period of two years - was “vital” in the circumstances

He explained: “The unforeseen disruption caused by Covid-19 has reduced and probably destroyed even the small possibility of doing any meaningful trade deal by December, let alone ratifying it.

“Several rounds of planned negotiation have already been missed, key personnel on both sides have been ill, and videoconferencing is a poor substitute for face-to-face meetings for matters of this complexity,”

Mr Grey also pointed out that any extension to the transition period need not necessarily take the form of the UK request. He said the withdrawal agreement would allow it to be agreed by the joint committee without publicly having been initiated by either side.

“This is an important and often overlooked point, which might be significant in terms of UK domestic politics,” he added.

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