Asked by: Lord Smith of Finsbury (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 23 October (HL2086) concerning constitutional advice on the possible revocation of the Article 50 notice, whether they will now answer the question asked.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
It has been the practice of successive Governments not to comment on legal advice that may or may not have been received. A clear majority of the electorate voted to leave the EU and we will respect the will of the British people. As a matter of firm policy, our notification will not be withdrawn, for the simple reason that people voted to leave. And we are determined to see through that instruction.
Asked by: Lord Smith of Finsbury (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the latest constitutional advice they have (1) sought, and (2) received, as to whether the Article 50 application to leave the EU can be revoked before the process is complete.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
A clear majority of the electorate voted to leave the EU and we will respect the will of the British people. This was reinforced by the fact that in the last general election over eighty percent voted for parties committed to respecting the outcome of the referendum. There can be no attempts to remain inside the EU and no attempt to rejoin it. There is no precedent for a country triggering Article 50, let alone seeking to reverse such a decision. As a matter of firm policy, our notification will not be withdrawn for the simple reason that people voted to leave. And we are determined to see through that instruction.