Summary

The United Kingdom narrowly missed dropping out of the European Union without a deal – the so-called ‘hard Brexit’ – in late March. Now the May government has some time to work with. The new deadline for an agreement has been set at October 31. However, since the hold-up is on the British side and not in Brussels, it’s possible that a deal could be consummated well ahead of time should something, anything manage to pass through Parliament with a simple majority. Prime Minister May is now engaged in talks with Labour in the hope of reaching a compromise agreement that would ensure her deal’s passage. Ideally it would go through before European Parliament elections on May 23, which May has repeatedly maintained would not be held due to the UK’s impending exit from the bloc.