Brexit: Revocability

Lord Kerr of Kinlochard Excerpts
Wednesday 20th December 2017

(7 years ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Callanan Portrait Lord Callanan
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I thank my noble friend for his opinion. He is of course correct.

Lord Kerr of Kinlochard Portrait Lord Kerr of Kinlochard
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This being the season of good will, I absolutely do not want to get the Minister into hot water again. Does he recall the view of the President of the European Parliament:

“If the UK wanted to stay, everybody would be in favour”?


On the legal issue of unilateral withdrawal of an Article 50 notification, does he recall the article enjoining honesty published on 9 November by his distinguished predecessor, the noble Lord, Lord Bridges of Headley, in which the noble Lord made it clear that there is “no legal basis” for the view that a notification cannot be unilaterally withdrawn? Does this perhaps explain why the Minister is so reluctant to reveal the law officers’ opinion?