A Brexit supporting Conservative MP has warned the Prime Minister that any one of the EU27 may reject Britain opting to extend Article 50, after Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement was defeated in the House of Commons on Tuesday. Ranil Jayawardena, Conservative MP for North East Hampshire, claimed Mrs May faced a “problem” arguing EU member states may have “had enough” with Brexit uncertainty and not allow the UK to extend Article 50. Speaking to Express.co.uk, he said: “The suggestion that because there is no deal agreed, but because Parliament, this place is refusing to even countenance leaving with no deal, or so-called no deal, then we would then extend it arguably indefinitely because one extension could lead to another. It is barmy. It wouldn’t deliver on the referendum.”
He added: “Here is the problem. The problem for Theresa May is all 27 countries have to agree that Article 50 can be extended.
“It only requires one leader to say, ‘you know what, no’. If she is betting on extending it rather than preparing for no deal, she could be in for a very nasty surprise.
“Not from us, not from Parliament, but from other EU leaders, who say actually ‘we want to move on too’.”
Speaking last week, Mr Jayawardena insisted it was “entirely possible” for a member state to vote against the extension of Article 50.
Brexit news: Ranil Jayawardena warned the EU27 may block an extension to Article 50 (Image: GETTY•EPA)
He said: “There are a whole host of problems with extending and it might well be that another member state says look ‘enough is enough’ and if we can’t agree to a deal we will agree to leave on a so-called no deal.”
The Conservative MP also said a no deal is not something the UK should “avoid at all costs”.
On Tuesday evening the Prime Minister’s withdrawal agreement was overwhelmingly rejected for a second time in the House of Commons with 391 votes to 242 against the deal, despite assurances secured by the Mrs May from the EU on Monday night.
Following the defeat, Mrs May said she still believed leaving with a deal was the best option for Britain and "the deal we've negotiated is
