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On 1 February 2017, MPs took an irrevocable step to take Britain out of
the European Union by approving a Bill, by a whopping cross-party majority of
384, allowing the Prime Minister to trigger Article 50.
The article provides that the provisions of the Treaty of Lisbon will
cease to apply to the leaving state from the date of any leaving agreement or,
2 years from the date of notification if no earlier agreement.
So, what we have so far is an overwhelming parliamentary mandate to
leave the EU by Friday 29 March 2019. There is no mention of transition or
implementation periods, just the simple imperative to leave. But Parliament now
wants a “meaningful vote” on the terms of leaving. How can that be? They have voted
to go but now, in retrospect, wish to quibble about the manner of reaching the
door.
Now, a sinister, “deadly serious,” movement is building up. Since we
only have the authority to go straight to the exit, MPs claim they must now
debate and give themselves the authority to negotiate our departure via a more
circuitous route. This should give our MPs, urged on by, amongst others, the
loyal members for Broxstowe and Loughborough - "Why, I can smile and
murder whiles I smile" - plenty to talk about over the next few years and
ensure that any prospect of actually regaining our sovereignty by leaving the
EU is well and truly consigned to the long grass of history.
Don’t let them get away with it!
