Brexit. Why do Brits want Out of the EU?

The government has split withdrawal agreement and political declaration. What does this mean?

What is the withdrawal agreement?
This is the agreement that covers the £39bn payment from the UK to the EU, citizens’ rights of non-Brits in the UK and British citizens in other EU countries and the backstop on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

This is a legally-binding document and has to be passed by the British and the European parliaments before the UK can leave the European Union with a deal. The government has argued that if we cannot pass this withdrawal agreement by Friday, we cannot leave the EU with a deal.

What is the political declaration?
This is the joint declaration drawn up by Theresa May with the European Union about what the post-Brexit relationship between the EU and the UK would look like. This is not legally binding and was meant to form the basis of trade talks.

Why has the government split them?
On Wednesday, Theresa May announced she would not lead the second phase of negotiations. Sources close to the government say they have split them so that the government can leave the EU on 22 May without passing the more contentious political declaration.

What is the government really up to?
Having been rebuffed by the government’s partners in the Democratic Unionist party and some of their own MPs in the Eurosceptic European Research Group, Theresa May is trying to force Labour’s hand. It is a way of saying to the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn: “If you want to honour the result of the EU referendum, you should vote for the withdrawal agreement.” Labour has previously said the government could not try to split the withdrawal agreement and the political declaration.

[...]
MPs backing a soft Brexit are hoping to forge compromise options to be put to parliament when the next round of indicative votes take place in the House of Commons.

Supporters of a Norway-style approach, dubbed “common market 2.0”, as well those MPs backing a customs union, hope they can come together and attract a majority for a form of soft Brexit.

Discussions are taking place to persuade the Labour frontbench to adopt more broadly appealing wording for a softer Brexit proposal, rather than put their own version of a Labour Brexit deal as one of the options in the next round of voting.

Unless Theresa May’s deal passes on Friday, MPs are expecting to vote again on a series of Brexit options on Monday, using a similar system to the first round of voting this Wednesday, where options are put down by MPs and selected by the speaker.
[...]

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission on Friday said a no-deal Brexit on April 12 was now “likely” after UK parliament rejected for the third time British Prime Minister Theresa May’s divorce deal with the European Union.

“The Commission regrets the negative vote in the House of Commons today,” a spokesman said, adding that the EU has given London until April 12 to inform it of the next steps. “It will be for the UK to indicate the way forward before that date.”

“A ‘no-deal’ scenario on 12 April is now a likely scenario. The EU... is now fully prepared for a ‘no-deal’ scenario at midnight on 12 April.”

The EU is running out of patience with Britain over Brexit, the president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker has warned.

In an interview with Italian state TV, Mr Juncker said he would like MPs in the UK to be able to reach an agreement over the way forward in the coming days.

“We have had a lot of patience with our British friends but patience is coming to an end,” he told RAI.

The commission president added: “So far we know what the British parliament says no to, but we don’t know what it might say yes to.”

Asked if a second referendum might be possible, Mr Juncker said that was an issue exclusively for the British people.

His words were reported by his deputy chief spokesman Mina Andreeva. She tweeted that Mr Juncker had told the Italian interviewer he would “like that the UK tells us which way they want to follow now”.

It comes ahead of a series of key votes in Parliament on Monday which could pave the way for a “softer” Brexit.

Several Tory ministers have urged Theresa May to heed the will of MPs if they manage to unite around a customs union during the second round of “indicative votes”.

On Sunday cabinet minister David Gauke told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show: “If parliament is voting overwhelmingly against leaving the European Union without a deal but is voting in favour of a softer Brexit, then I don’t think it’s sustainable to ignore parliament’s position and therefore leave without a deal.”

Defence minister Tobias Ellwood also signalled he would support some kind of customs union plan in the votes tomorrow.

Although there has been speculation a general election could be called to break the deadlock in parliament, most Conservatives are opposed.

Alistair Burt, who resigned as foreign office minister after voting against Ms May’s Brexit deal, said he didn't think a new election would be helpful.

“We need to stick to this task that we have in relation to the European Union,” he told Sky News on Sunday. “Settle that and then move forward, offer the public the wide range of choices that political parties do ... let's get on with doing this job in the first place.”

Theresa May’s government is on the verge of meltdown as cabinet ministers prepare to clash over whether to support plans for a softer Brexit and a possible lengthy delay before leaving the European Union.

In a decisive intervention, David Gauke, the justice secretary, said on Sunday that the prime minister would have to accept the possibility of backing a customs union if the measure is supported by parliament this week.

This was dismissed by Brexiters, including those in cabinet, who have threatened to resign if May accepts a customs union or submits to a delay that goes beyond 22 May. Those threatening to quit were reported to include Penny Mordaunt, the international development secretary, and Chris Grayling, the transport secretary.

In another twist, Julian Smith, the chief whip, told the BBC on Monday that a softer Brexit was “inevitable” after the government lost its majority after the 2017 election.

It comes as May and her dwindling number of supporters prepare to face a second round of “indicative” votes on alternatives to her deal on Monday.
Concerned by the possibility of cabinet resignations, May is being urged by some ministers to allow a free vote on any customs union proposal. If parliament backs a customs union, ministers believe May will be forced to make a decision that will lead to resignations when the cabinet meets on Tuesday.

With 12 days before the UK is due to leave the EU, Gauke said the prime minister would have to “look very closely” if MPs back a customs union in a fresh round of indicative votes.

“If parliament is voting overwhelmingly against leaving the European Union without a deal but is voting in favour of a softer Brexit, then I don’t think it’s sustainable to ignore parliament’s position and therefore leave without a deal,” Gauke said.

Asked for his response to a letter from 170 Tory MPs, including 10 members of the cabinet, who wrote to May urging her to take the UK out of the EU “with or without a deal”, Gauke said he would resign rather than support no-deal Brexit.

“My position is that it is not the responsible thing for a government to do, to leave without a deal in these circumstances. So obviously I wouldn’t be able to remain a member of the government,” Gauke told the BBC.

You may have heard about the UK’s decision to leave the EU. Hell, you might even be one of the lovely people who voted for it. It’s tough out there for you Brits; no one knows what is going on. Even your political pundits aren’t shocked anymore.

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