Hopes for second Brexit referendum reach fever pitch

– ‘It would be complicated’ –

Even if MPs did eventually coalesce around another poll, legal and practical problems loom.

Britain has legislated to leave the European Union on March 29, 2019, after triggering Article 50 — the treaty mechanism used to exit the bloc — two years earlier.

It is unclear if the Article 50 process could be paused or reversed unilaterally by the government.

Europe’s top court is expected to rule on the matter in days.

Britain could also try to agree a delay with the EU.

“Whether the EU agrees to extend Article 50 will depend on why the UK is asking,” said Fraser.

Some analysts think Brussels would be open to a delay for another referendum, but not for further negotiations.

– Timing ‘biggest barrier’ –

But with European Parliament elections in the spring, the bloc might only favour a few additional weeks, which might not be enough time to stage another poll.

“If it ever gets to that, the Europeans will only extend Article 50 until the European elections,” a European diplomatic source told AFP.

The timing was “the biggest barrier” for a second referendum, said Fraser, noting that it could take four to five months to prepare and carry out.

“There is a potential for a clash: even with the extension of the Article 50 process, you’d be tangled up in the European elections in May.”

But Wright argued that at that stage, with Britain potentially poised to vote to reverse Brexit, the EU would likely prove flexible.

“It would be complicated, particularly in terms of timing… but I don’t think the EU would say no.”