英伦广角 英国首相Theresa May会晤欧洲议会议长

It’s probably generous to say the exact details of what Brexit looks like are little unclear. We still don’t know what Brexit would look like when it happens. But now, at least we are a little closer to know when British formal exit from the EU will begin.

Theresa May closely-held timetable was put out in the open by this man -- European Council president Donald Tusk¹. And it was at this meeting in Downing Street earlier this month that he said the Prime Minister had suggested a date for triggering Article 50. 

“She declared that it’s almost impossible to trigger Article 50 this year, but it’s quite likely that they will be ready maybe in January, maybe in February next year.”

Invoke² Article 50 kick-starts the formal process of the UK leaving the EU. Once the process is triggered, the negotiations³ must be concluded within a 2-year period unless all 27 EU members states agree to extend the timetable.

“By the next general election, general election of 2020, the United Kingdom will be out if Theresa May opts⁴ EU and vote article 50 by 2017.”

Although Theresa May’s team won’t give a running commentary on Brexit, the issue of leaving the EU is set to dominate the party conferences.

“They have a deal forced upon our country about massive ramifications⁵ that absolutely nobody voted for would be a tragedy for our democracy and will damage our economies, so we will fight to make sure the British people must have their say before the United Kingdom has struck up a deal that nobody gave consensus⁶ to.”

Others have questioned the credibility of triggering Brexit at all in 2017.

“I also heard yesterday talks that perhaps there won’t be any negotiations on Brexit until the French and German elections, meaning that we could see no further progress on Brexit and no clear definition of what it means until 2018 or 2019.”

“It was here two months ago that the Conservative Party doubted around Theresa May to X the former Home Secretary the new Prime Minister and party leader. And since then she has stead vastly, kept silent about what sort of Brexit though she is looking for, aware that any pronouncement on freedom of movement rules or access to the single market is likely to reopen the bitter battle wounds of the EU referendum campaign.”

Donald Tusk has X the starting gun on British exit from the EU, and those surrounding Theresa May will be demanded in answers when the party gather for the annual conference in October. Theresa May can be silent no more.

1 tusk   

n.獠牙，长牙，象牙

参考例句：

• The wild boar had its tusk sunk deeply into a tree and howled desperately.野猪的獠牙陷在了树里，绝望地嗥叫着。
• A huge tusk decorated the wall of his study.他书房的墙上装饰着一支巨大的象牙。

2 invoke   

v.求助于(神、法律)；恳求，乞求

参考例句：

• Let us invoke the blessings of peace.让我们祈求和平之福。
• I hope I'll never have to invoke this clause and lodge a claim with you.我希望我永远不会使用这个条款向你们索赔。

3 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

4 opts   

v.选择，挑选( opt的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• One player hoping to get another chance to shine if Mourinho opts to rest Cole backBridge. 假如穆里尼奥安排阿。科尔轮休，那么同一位置上的将会得到一个上场的机会来证实自己。 来自互联网
• If he opts out this summer, he d sign a five year deal. 如果今夏跳出，他估计会签五年。 来自互联网

5 ramifications   

n.结果，后果( ramification的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• These changes are bound to have widespread social ramifications. 这些变化注定会造成许多难以预料的社会后果。
• What are the ramifications of our decision to join the union? 我们决定加入工会会引起哪些后果呢？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？