Brexit crisis: Germany and Europe react — live updates

Today’s main reactions: 

• Germany’s foreign minister says the “time for games” from London is up.
• France activates its no-deal Brexit plans.
• Germany’s biggest industry association says German “companies are currently looking into the abyss.”

Refresh the page for live updates. All updates in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

12:14 A lawmaker from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which is itself flirting with the idea of a German exit from the EU, responded to Maas’ speech by partially blaming the European Commission for the Brexit chaos. Speaking in the Bundestag, Martin Hebner also took a shot at EU civil servants: “Many in our country are, like us, not opponents of Europe. We’re against the EU bureaucracy.”

12:05 German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told lawmakers in the Bundestag that Britain still needs to tell the EU what exactly it wants. “The time for games is up,” he said. “The ball is now in Britain’s court.”

11:48 Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the opposition Labour Party, says Theresa May would need to rule out a no-deal Brexit if she wants him to discuss new Brexit proposals with her. He also says Labour are open to supporting a second referendum: “If the government remains intransigent, if support for Labour’s alternative is blocked for party advantage and the country is facing the potential disaster of no deal, our duty will then be to look at other options … including that of a public vote.”

11:40 German broadcaster ARD posted a video on Twitter of John Bercow, the Speaker of the House of Commons, repeatedly shouting “Order!” ahead of yesterday’s vote of no-confidence. The clip has proved quite a hit in a country not accustomed to the theatrics of British politics.

11:28 A spokeswoman for the European Commission says it has so far received no application from Britain to extend Britain’s departure date later than March 29.

11:04 A YouGov poll commissioned by the People’s Vote, which supports a second referendum, shows 48 percent of British respondents would vote to remain, 38 would leave, 6 would not vote and 7
percent would be undecided if another referendum were held. The result for remain is the highest since the June 2016 referendum.

10:51 Need a refresher on what’s happened in the past few days? Check out DW’s coverage on Theresa May surviving a no-confidence vote on Wednesday and the British parliament resoundingly rejecting her draft withdrawal agreement.

Read more Dw