Leaving the European Union

Bernard Jenkin Excerpts
Monday 22nd January 2018

(6 years, 3 months ago)

Westminster Hall
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Paul Scully Portrait Paul Scully
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There is some legal opinion that says that. The hon. Lady talks about the weight of legal opinion, but I do not agree that it is the weight of legal opinion. There are arguments about it. It is such a short paragraph, and it is pretty clear to my mind that we cannot unilaterally revoke article 50.

Bernard Jenkin Portrait Mr Bernard Jenkin (Harwich and North Essex) (Con)
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Is it not ironic that the lawyers who brought the case under the guidance of Gina Miller to require Parliament to enact the article 50 notification decided that article 50 was not revocable? The entire case was premised on that.

Paul Scully Portrait Paul Scully
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I thank my hon. Friend for making that powerful point.

--- Later in debate ---
Antoinette Sandbach Portrait Antoinette Sandbach (Eddisbury) (Con)
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The lawyers conceded that point, but it was not directly relevant to the case that was being argued.

Bernard Jenkin Portrait Mr Jenkin
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It was the premise of the judgment.

Antoinette Sandbach Portrait Antoinette Sandbach
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I hear the chuntering from my hon. Friend, but the reality was that it was not the issue that was being decided on. If there was any merit in that point in the judgment, it was clearly obiter dictum, as it is called.