If Brexit withdrawal cannot be reversed the UK is at risk of a seriously bad outcome, explains Michael Zander QC
The discussion about triggering withdrawal from the EU has so far concentrated mainly on the question whether it requires Parliamentary approval. Little attention has yet been given to an even more troubling question—if withdrawal is started, could it be withdrawn mid-process?
A possible reason for wanting to withdraw might be so serious a downturn in the UK’s overall economic position as to persuade the government that Brexit should not after all go ahead. A completely different reason would be realisation that the terms for withdrawal on offer from the EU were completely unacceptable, or worse, that withdrawal was about to take place without terms having been agreed.
The issue is explored by Jonathan Rickford, former legal academic and senior legal civil servant and Robert (Bob) Ayling, former legal civil servant and CEO of BA (“Brexit Referendum and Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union: A Legal Trap: the Need for Legislation”).
Once the withdrawal process has begun by notification under
