Article 50

Christopher Chope Excerpts

Tuesday 24th January 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davis]

If I remember correctly, that section ends with the phrase, “nobody has a veto”—no devolved Administration has a veto. In terms of involving and looking after or trying to help assist the interests of the devolved Administrations and the people they represent, we have a whole process in place with the Joint Ministerial Committee, which does nothing but consider these matters. It considers the interests of the nations of the United Kingdom to ensure that none of their special interests, none of their special political situations and none of their special economic situations is harmed in any way.

[Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch) (Con)]

There have been a couple of references to paragraph 122 of the Supreme Court judgment. It says:

“There is no equivalence between the constitutional importance of a statute…and its length or complexity.”

It adds:

“A notice under article 50…could…be very short”.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that that is a very important message for Opposition Members?

[Mr Davis]

I take my hon. Friend’s point, and I will seek incisive brevity.