Boris Johnson basically just requested a Brexit extension and no one knows what to think | indy100 | indy100

Just six weeks after saying he'd "rather be dead in a ditch" than agree to request a Brexit extension, Boris Johnson last night was forced to do exactly that. Despite saying only hours before that he would not make the request.

Yesterday, the prime minister faced defeat in parliament after MPs voted in favour of the Letwin amendment, meaning Johnson would have to ask for an extension as per the provisions of the Benn Act, which was passed last month.

However, Johnson still maintained that he "will not negotiate a delay with the EU and neither does the law compel me to do so" in comments that caused outrage online.

Many disagreed, including - by the looks of things - the PM himself, once he thought about it.

1. Govt is sending three documents to the EU tonight - the 1st, the Benn Act extension letter, exactly as set out i… https://t.co/vizfYkpeJ9
— Laura Kuenssberg (@Laura Kuenssberg) 1571518837

This is correct. The political reality is that @BorisJohnson has capitulated & requested an extension of #Art50. Th… https://t.co/oHQjRMLht6
— Joanna Cherry QC (@Joanna Cherry QC) 1571551704

The important bit wasn’t the theatrics about the ditch, it was the straight ‘yes’: “Can you a promise today to the… https://t.co/7qaNlQ5ps1
— James Morris (@James Morris) 1571556601

A letter has now been sent to the president of the European Council Donald Tusk, requesting the extension as he is required to do.

Apparently, no one bothered to re-word it at all, pretty much copy-and-pasting straight from the Act.

NEW: Boris’s three letters to circumvent the Benn act 1) a photocopy of the letter in the bill, unsigned 2) a cover… https://t.co/7k7SS0qSbO
— Tim Shipman (@Tim Shipman) 1571518798

Johnson didn't even sign it, saying it came from the UK’s Brussels representative Sir Tim Barrow - pretty much a technicality - possibly in anticpation of the inevitable but tasteless dead-in-a-ditch references now spreading across social media.

Johnson then sent Tusk a second letter confirming he didn't want an extension and claiming he can definitely pass all necessary legislation within the next 11 days and get his deal approved by parliament in order to leave the EU on 31 October.

Yes, this is as wildly unlikely as it sounds.

In the second letter, he wrote:

I have made clear since becoming prime minister - and made clear to parliament again today - my view, and the government’s position, that a further extension would damage the interests of the UK and our EU partners and the relationship between us.

We must bring this process to a conclusion so that we can move to the next phase and build our new relationship.

As many have pointed out, this is an absurd turn of events and the PM has been mercilessly mocked.

@eucopresident @BorisJohnson Boris Johnson delivering extension letter to Brussels..... https://t.co/wbc314yj0N
— Dee (@Dee) 1571510937

“I’m not going to ask for an extension!” X 30. *writes letter asking for an extension* #BorisJohnson https://t.co/y3pVot60c4
— Tami (@Tami) 1571522144

@BorisJohnson releases text of letter sent by raven to @donaldtusk #BrexitVote https://t.co/KO78n70JQw
— Bruce Clark (@Bruce Clark) 1571522408

— (@)

‘I will send the letter, but I won’t sign it. Because I am a stroppy spoilt man-baby’ #BorisJohnson https://t.co/xVRuoRaulB
— JC (not that one) (@JC (not that one)) 1571556068

@dave00815960 @TimmySigmend @eucopresident @BorisJohnson "Do you have the letter for Donald Tusk, Prime Minister?" https://t.co/Asnlpdl37X
— Spooky Head 😷 💙 Social Darwinist 🇬🇧 Government (@Spooky Head 😷 💙 Social Darwinist 🇬🇧 Government) 1571511883

Exclusive first look at the letter Boris Johnson is sending to the EU tonight: https://t.co/vFd2kWmXtD
— Guffers (@Guffers) 1571500224

Boris Johnson's letter to EU? https://t.co/5LKFksJAJX
— Sweet SA 💙 (@Sweet SA 💙) 1571528674

Boris Johnson delivers his letter to The European Union. https://t.co/rVT4QHMuzF
— rufus jones (@rufus jones) 1571520451

Hi @BorisJohnson, it looks like you’re writing a letter. Would you like help? https://t.co/3J6ewhF5Xc
— Moose Allain Ꙭ (@Moose Allain Ꙭ) 1571515531

This year, I’m going to apply Boris Johnson’s EU extension letter method to Christmas cards. https://t.co/KJmfTHTy55
— Dan Rebellato (@Dan Rebellato) 1571557416

If @BorisJohnson did not want to have to delay Brexit, maybe he should not have wasted weeks by unlawfully suspending Parliament?
— David Lammy (@David Lammy) 1571556168

Boris then: “I’d rather be dead in a ditch than ask for an extension!” Boris now: “Well OK, if we can’t agree a de… https://t.co/1HqzKkDBr9
— Jonathan Pie (@Jonathan Pie) 1571223925

It feels grimly appropriate if Boris Johnson writes a letter to the EU asking for an extension then another one say… https://t.co/JqxsexJSln
— David Schneider (@David Schneider) 1571511701

— (@)

Boris really missed a trick by not ending his letter like this. Show them he means business. https://t.co/LqVIe5iDWU
— Stig Abell (@Stig Abell) 1571520281

Out fate is now in the hands of the EU which needs to decide whether or not to grant the extension Johnson requested but doesn't want.

One wonders whether this is what Brexiteers had in mind by "taking back control"...

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