Quote:
Originally Posted by gba93
 Looks like they have:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-52208591
UK 'committed to post-Brexit trade deadline'
The chancellor is also asked whether it is a good time for the UK to leave the EU if the economy is going to be so damaged by the pandemic.
Rishi Sunak says: "We have left the European Union, that has happened, we are now working on the final terms of trading arrangements. That work is carrying on."
He says negotiating teams spoke earlier this week and would hold more talks this month and in May.
"We remain committed to the timeline for concluding talks and negotiations, albeit over video conference rather than in person," he adds.
Still not convinced? |
No. To say now we're open to an extension virtually guarantees an extension and removes the sense of urgency that an optional extension is supposed to provide.
On top of that the messaging around any extension will need to be carefully planned. Considering the Government is asking the vast majority of people to stay at home, and the Coronavirus response requires compliance.
While I'm sure the vast majority of people would be reasonable it only takes a handful of morons whose nationalism tells them this is a betrayal to encourage civil disobedience or worse.
We've got folk setting fire to mobile telecoms infrastructure, mugging nurses and spitting at police officers saying they have Coronavirus. People are already anxious. If the Government are to request an extension, or agree to an EU request for one, I'm certain the revelation won't be because some hack threw it into a press conference to Rishi Sunak.