Yes Seph, we should have gone in hard in the beginning but thanks to the likes of Gina Miller and remain MP's wanting our objectives out in the open before negotiations had even started (good negotiating strategy) the Government was effectively hogtied.
I can't comment on the white paper as Ihaven't had the time to read it (willhave tomorrow) but as I understand it Parliament will have a say on any deal finally reached (if any). I have no problem with that.
What happens in the case of no deal?
Extending the period of negotiation must be by a unanimous decision but the acceptance of to do so by the EU is by a qualified majority. People seem to confuse the two but the EU rules are quite specific.
Worthy of note
Quote:
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Abstentions by Members present in person or represented shall not prevent the adoption by the Council of acts which require unanimity.
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Seems ambiguous.
Qualified majority.
Quote:
(a) A qualified majority shall be defined as at least 55% of the members of the Council representing the participating Member States, comprising at least 65% of the population of these States.
A blocking minority must include at least the minimum number of Council members representing more than 35% of the population of the participating Member States, plus one member, failing which the qualified majority shall be deemed attained;
(b) By way of derogation from point (a), when the Council does not act on a proposal from the Commission or from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the qualified majority shall be defined as at least 72% of the members of the Council representing Member States comprising at least 65% of the population of these States.
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Source Article 50(2) http://www.lisbon-treaty.org/wcm/the...rticle-50.html and Article 238 (3) a) and b) http://www.lisbon-treaty.org/wcm/the...ticle-238.html