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You can imagine the uproar, in the UK, if the European Parliament refused to ratify the deal negotiated and agreed by the Council.

The problem, now, is there is no good way out. May's deal, no deal, or a second referendum are all divisive options and few want to put their head on the block by opting for one.  All are hoping that the final decision is made by others who will then reap the electoral damage.

I still think there is a small chance the European Council won't agree an A.50 extension if requested by the UK merely to extend the stalemate. Again, imagine the uproar if, say, Romania voted against extension effectively booting the UK out on March 29th.!

The Westminster debate is all about the UK and what various factions want. No one listens to the EU or Ireland and assumes that they will simply roll over and give the UK what it wants once they can agree on something.

Ridiculous proposals about a "managed Brexit" or the EU agreeing sectoral deals post Brexit are concocted out of thin air without any conception of how the EU actually works.

Apparently everyone has to change their laws and constitutions to accommodate the latest UK wheeze. Unreal...

Index of Frank's Diaries

by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot male dotty communists) on Fri Jan 18th, 2019 at 04:55:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Complete impasse in London ... no  courage for clear decisions, just outrage from more than one side. 🕸🕷Time has run out ... all EU states are firm in contingency plans due great risk of a hard Brexit. All EU leaders and spokespersons allude to is a UK quest for a softer break, staying in the single market.

Clowns like Boris Johnson should just shut up!

STOP THE NONSENSE great BRITAIN 😡😪

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Fri Jan 18th, 2019 at 05:26:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Again, imagine the uproar if, say, Romania voted against extension effectively booting the UK out on March 29th.!

From memory, one of the amendments proposed for the discussion on Tuesday 15th was that the UK should ratify the Withdrawal Agreement, subject to writing in unilaterally their own end date to the Backstop! That amendment was not proceeded with. Even before considering A.50 extension, I could imagine that attempting to modify the WA would have caused several of the 27 to reject the WA in the EP.

I found the opening contribution of Sir Geoffery Cox, Attorney General enlightening [top law adviser to the UK government]. I was surprised that 432 "lawmakers" chose to ignore his advice.

Orderly exit from the European Union would always require a withdrawal agreement along these lines. No alternative option now being canvassed in the House would not require the withdrawal agreement and now the backstop. Let us be clear: whatever solution may be fashioned if this motion and deal are defeated, this withdrawal agreement will have to return in much the same form and with much the same content. Therefore, there is no serious or credible objection that has been advanced by any party to the withdrawal agreement.

My emphasis added

It is useful to know that one government advisor has read Article 50, and understood the process, its inflexibility and consequences.

The complete official record of his contribution is here but more difficult to follow because of all the interruptions and his Shakespearean delivery.

by oldremainmer48 on Fri Jan 18th, 2019 at 11:23:55 PM EST
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