andrewducker: (Default)
andrewducker ([personal profile] andrewducker) wrote2019-01-17 11:03 am
danieldwilliam: (Default)

[personal profile] danieldwilliam 2019-01-18 09:54 am (UTC)(link)
I do not think you can do a conditional revocation.

Firstly, my understanding of the ruling in the Scottish Case was that the UK could unilaterally revoke its Article 50 if it was a sincere and good faith revocation and not an attempt to do an end run around the need for uninamity for an Article 50 extension. I'm not sure that putting in conditions that touched on the EU would pass that test.

Secondly, the unilateral revocation completely revokes the Article 50 (or it has no effect - see above). Therefore, in terms of UK constitutional proceedure we are probably back to the position pre EU referendum. I am not sure it would be possible to put in place any conditions for UK counter-parties that were enforceable.

"I will vote to revoke Article 50 so we can renegotiate the Irish Border with the EU and we will trigger it again in a year" probably falls foul of the good faith requirements under the Scottish Case.

"I will vote to revoke Article 50 if you promise X, Y and Z (a Section 30 Consent for a Scottish Independence Referendum for example)" is difficult to enforce because Article 50 is revoked and would need an Act of Parliament to re-invoke (per the Miller Case).

In the second case you'd be entirely relying on the good faith of the Prime Minister of the day and that they remained Prime Minister until the point of delivery on their side of the bargain.
drplokta: (Default)

[personal profile] drplokta 2019-01-18 10:03 am (UTC)(link)
The only condition would be that we’d got to the day before Brexit day without agreeing a deal or an extension. The revocation under those circumstances would be unequivocal and unconditional, as required — we would then be staying in the EU, not trying to buy time.
Edited 2019-01-18 10:04 (UTC)
danieldwilliam: (Default)

[personal profile] danieldwilliam 2019-01-18 10:26 am (UTC)(link)
I'm thinking more of an attempt to write that in to UK law during the week of the 21st January. Which requires having the fight with Brexiteers now.

And also turns on whether one thinks being able to leave without a deal strengthens our negotiating position in any meaningful way. I tend to think that it doesn't but I understand that others think it does.