Spain welcomes EU offer to delay Brexit until May 22 if Westminster approves deal

SPAIN’S Prime Minister has welcomed a delay to Brexit if Westminster passes the proposed deal next week and said British expatriates should know Madrid is prepared for a no-deal.

Pedro Sanchez said the offer was good for Spain and the EU. He was speaking after a Brussels EU summit where British Prime Minister Theresa May was offered a delay until May 22 if Parliament passes the draft deal next week.

Sanchez told reporters after yesterday’s (Thursday) summit that Spain wanted a deal but that it no longer depended on them or the EU.

“We are at a critical moment. History will judge the events of the coming weeks,” Sanchez said.

“Spanish citizens in Britain and British citizens in Spain must know that the Spanish government is ready for a disorderly Brexit,” the Prime Minister said.

It comes as the Brexit deal struck between Brussels and London in November remains held up in Westminster while the original leave date of next Friday looms closer.

MPs have rejected the deal twice and House of Commons Speaker John Bercow refused to allow a further vote until May returned with substantial changes to terms of EU withdrawal.

Brussels has offered Britain two different deadlines depending on whether MPs pass the deal, according to EU Council President Donald Tusk.

Tusk said the new May 22 withdrawal date would stand if MPs pass the draft Withdrawal Agreement next week. If they do not then London will have until April 12 to tell Brussels on how it plans to proceed.

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