18 July 2017

Financial Times: Author of Article 50 calls for Brexit to be stopped

The author of the Article 50 clause that allows Britain to leave the EU has called for the Brexit process to be halted, saying that the “disastrous consequences” are “becoming ever clearer”.

John Kerr, the former diplomat, is one of dozens of prominent Scots to sign an open letter urging a pause and a rethink.

“In a democracy, it is always possible to think again and to choose a different direction. We need to think again about Brexit, to have a UK-wide debate about calling a halt to the process and changing our minds,” says the letter, whose other signatories include the former defence secretary George Robertson, the software entrepreneur Ian Ritchie, and the historian Tom Devine.

The intervention comes after low public support for Theresa May’s approach to Brexit, and increasing fighting between her Cabinet ministers.

Only 16 per cent of people said that the government was handling the Brexit process well, compared to 40 per cent who said it was handling it badly, according to a Survation poll on Sunday.

Lord Kerr, who drafted Article 50 in 2003, has argued in the past that Britain can legally revoke its decision to trigger the exit clause. Both Article 50 and the Lisbon treaty of which it forms part are silent on that matter; the British government has previously argued in court that the move to trigger Article 50 in March is irreversible.

The letter from prominent Scots, many of whom vocally supported Remain, points to “falling living standards, rising inflation, slowing growth and lower productivity”, and Britain’s “seriously damaged” international reputation since the vote.

Related article It is time to call a halt to Brexit From Lord Kerr of Kinlochard and others. “We recognise that a narrow majority voted to leave the European Union, but the disastrous consequences are now becoming ever clearer — every day,” it says. [...]

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