Wednesday, 27 Nov 2024

Brexit plot: Hungary to veto extension? Boris Johnson’s secret ally exposed

Footage has emerged of Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto and Ambassador Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczk leaving the Cabinet Office on Friday morning. The video was reportedly taken at the same time as Boris Johnson held an “emergency” Cabinet meeting. The footage has since sparked speculation of Hungary vetoing a Brexit extension request.

Remain campaigner Femi Oluwole tweeted: “Keep an eye on Hungary. The fact that Boris Johnson is saying he’ll ask for #BrexitExtension soon after meeting with one of the countries most likely to want to veto the extension request… concerns me…”

Another user commented on the video: “Curious. Is Johnson getting Hungary to veto his EU extension?”

Another wrote: “So the theory is, No 10 had a chat with Hungary this week to get them to veto an extension to A50?”

Jolyon Maugham QC posted: “There is, so far as I can see, still one, and only one, way through for the Government to 31 October. If they can cause an r27 to veto the extension the statements to the court are fine and the PM gets to deliver his promise.”

He added: “If (as I now expect) the Court orders that the PM not frustrate or thwart the terms of the Benn Act in the terms we have sought then (I believe) the Government is screwed. We will not be able to make good on whatever we might have promised eg Hungary and they will know it.”

However, Hungary have previously denied vetoing a Brexit extension, with Mr Szijjarto saying in September: “If there is such a request we’ll make our own decision. A few large western European member states really want to put an end to this and want it decided one way or another, so probably it won’t be our decision that will be key on this issue.”

But on Thursday night, the Hungarian Foreign Minister voiced his frustration at the EU, saying he was “fed up” with their approach to Brexit.

He told BBC’s Newsnight: “We are really fed up with all those approaches in Europe and in the world when some countries think that it’s homework for them to lecture others. And to tell others how they should accommodate their life and tell others how they should debate and again we don’t want to be ridiculous either.

“So we will not give any kind of advice, we’ll not give any kind of comment, we’re not going to criticise, we’re not going to judge, we’ll just follow. And then we’ll see what’s the consequence. UK is a friend and ally, not to speak about the fact that you know I don’t like those statement and those approaches.

“Mostly on behalf of Brussels, which try to diminish the significant of the UK leaving the European Union. So saying that ‘oh it’s not going to hurt’ or ‘it’s not going to have an impact’, I mean this is simply not true.

“UK represents 14 percent of the performance of the achievement of the European economy. 14 percent, one seventh, now you do not need to be a Nobel Prize winner to understand that if 14 percent of an economy performance of an integration leaves, that will leave some challenges for those who remain.”

Boris Johnson also tweeted on Friday afternoon: “New deal or no deal – but no delay. #GetBrexitDone #LeaveOct31”.

Meanwhile, eurosceptic Tory MP Steve Baker insists the prime minister would still meet the October 31 Brexit deadline despite the government stating in court documents that it would request an extension to prevent no-deal.

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Mr Baker posted to Twitter: “A source confirms all this means is that government will obey the law. It does not mean we will extend. It does not mean we will stay in the EU beyond Oct 31. We will leave.”

But Mr Baker told the Press Association that he did not know what the government’s plan was to get around the Benn Act if necessary.

The new Brexit plan would see Northern Ireland remaining in the EU single market – pending the Northern Ireland Assembly’s approval – and out of the EU customs union.

The EU and Dublin have so far trashed the alternative plan as it would create a hard border for customs on the island of Ireland – something both parties have always pledged to avoid.

But the Prime Minister is still hopeful the plan could be the basis of a new agreement which he believes will also have the approval of the Commons. Arch-Brexiteers in the Conservative Party and the DUP have already given their approval to the new proposals.

The Prime Minister needs to get a deal by October 19 to secure an October 31 exit. If he fails to do so, Mr Johnson might be forced to ask for an extension to the Article 50 process as dictated by the Benn Act – approved by Parliament last month.

Source: Read Full Article

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