Brexit delays

The Guardian weekly Brexit briefing email:

Speaking of timing, numerous predictions had it that May would invoke article 50 – the process that formally begins EU exit – on Tuesday, in the wake of the expected (at time of writing) passage of the bill allowing her to do this. This has now been pushed back to the end of the month, officials have briefed. Why? In part it is to avoid potentially influencing Wednesday’s Dutch election, where the far-right populist Geert Wilders hopes to capitalise on anti-EU sentiment.

There is also the matter of the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, which set up the European Economic Community, forerunner of the EU, on 25 March. With May about to seek the goodwill of the 27 remaining leaders, she does not wish to poop their party by triggering article 50 until it’s over.

And why not Tuesday? In the main, it seems that Sturgeon’s announcement of another referendum has got in the way. These things are becoming a habit.