# Brexit - general discussion thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 12, 2018, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brexit-general-discussion-thread/824424 "2018-11-12T20:29:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 22
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brexit-general-discussion-thread/824424/421 "2018-12-05T16:11:42Z")
…and I’ve just seen post #417. Oh well. No personal rancour is intended in this debate, and I hope **Novelty Bobble** works out whatever is going on IRL. ---
**Author:** ![Ramira](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ramira/32/344_2.png) [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brexit-general-discussion-thread/824424/422 "2018-12-05T16:59:58Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Greece has no grounds for complaint - they lied their asses off with regard to the economic data they provided in their application to join the Eurozone and as a result nearly brought the rest of Europe down with them. it is worth the emphasis that it was not only on the ascension to the Euro that they deliberately fabricated statistics (they were not otherwise eligible), but that the actual active fabrication for the deliberate deception of the Eurozone authorities continued until just before the crisis. ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brexit-general-discussion-thread/824424/423 "2018-12-05T22:55:59Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by **Steve Bullock** > > 50 simple chunks of reality to help MPs in these difficult times. > > 1. The Withdrawal Agreement (WA) is not up for renegotiation > 2. The Political Declaration (PD) might be tweaked cosmetically > 3. The future relationship will be negotiated during the transition period > 4. There will be no transition without the WA > 5. The will be no WA without the Financial Settlement > 6. A backstop cannot be unilaterally ended or it is not a backstop > 7. There will be no WA without a backstop > 8. The PD is not a deal on the future relationship > 9. The PD is wish list, not binding > 10. The PD leaves huge, crucial questions entirely open > 11. The level of access to EU markets and programmes is dependent on the level of alignment to EU rules UKGov is willing to commit to. > 12. UK restrictions to Freedom of Movement will be directly reciprocated by EU27 for UK citizens > 13. Frictionless trade is impossible outside the Single Market and a Customs Union. > 14. Neither the Single Market or a Customs union are enough alone for frictionless trade > 15. Single Market membership requires Freedom of Movement, whoever is negotiating it > 16. EFTA membership is technically very difficult to combine with Single Market membership > 17. EFTA/EEA membership requires acceptance of Freedom of Movement. > 18. EFTA or EEA membership means very little influence and no formal control over Single Market rules. > 19. Adjusting the PD to include EEA+CU would not eliminate the need for a backstop. > 20. A New EEA pillar with a customs Union would not be simple or off-the-shelf, and would need to be negotiated. > 21. Negotiations on any future relationship may fail. > 22. UKGov has explicitly ruled out being in the Single Market, making theirs a hard, not a soft Brexit. > 23. Labour has implicitly ruled out being in the Single Market by not accepting FoM or EU State Aid rules that are required fro membership of it > 24. No Deal is a certain national catastrophe > 25. There is no such thing as a “WTO Deal” > 26. The UK already trades extensively with non-EU countries > 27. The projected economic benefits of new trade deals are very small in comparison to Single Market Membership > 28. There are no EU tariffs on goods from the poorest countries in the world > 29. The WA does not protect all rights for EU Citizens in the UK or UK Citizens in the EU. > 30. It does not allow either groups to live “exactly as before”. > 31. UKGov has complete control over its policy towards non-EU migration > 32. It is impossible to enter the UK, except across the IE/NI border, without having your passport checked. > 33. Article 50 can be revoked, certainly with EU27 agreement, probably unilaterally. > 34. Article 50 can be extended, with EU27 agreement. > 35. EU27 priority is to avoid a chaotic no deal Brexit while not crossing their red lines > 36. EU27 will not negotiate a future relationship that crosses their red lines, whoever is negotiating it. > 37. EU27 are likely to agree to an extension to Article 50 for a Ratify vs Remain Referendum > 38. EU27 are by now largely ambivalent about which one of those is chosen > 39. EU27 are unlikely to grant an extension for more messing around with obvious route to a solution. > 40. EU27 are unlikely to grant an extension and will not reopen the WA just due to a change of government > 41. Reviewing a previous decision using the same method that decision was based on is not undemocratic > 42. Proceeding with Brexit will not heal divisions > 43. There is no problem that being poorer helps. > 44. All versions of Brexit will leave the UK poorer. > 45. EU Member States are unlikely to allow UK rejoin for many years, possibly decades > 46. UK would retain it’s vetoes, opt-outs, and rebate if it remained a member of the EU, but will never get them again if it leaves and rejoins. > 47. No responsible Government or Parliament could allow No Deal > 48. MPs should not vote for any deal they believe to be bad for the country. > 49. UKGov can choose to try to stop a No Deal Brexit at any time before it happens. > 50. If No deal happened, it would be because the Government had chosen not to stop it, and considered that appalling harm to the UK and its population was worth it for their own political ends. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brexit-general-discussion-thread/824424/424 "2018-12-06T12:24:02Z")
The idea that Europeans (or their governments since the distinction seems to matter to some) are less flexible than the British seems odd. How about the Spanish? Are they demanding special treatment from the EU? Are the French complying with Brussels’ rules? The Germans? the Poles? Are the Italians demanding that EU rules be renegotiated? No. Yet we’re asked to believe it’s the _British_ who are more flexible?? [Here’s one explanation of why Britain joined the EU in the first place.](https://youtu.be/ZVYqB0uTKlE?t=105) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brexit-general-discussion-thread/824424/425 "2018-12-07T12:41:14Z")
Is Britain being flexible on free movement of individuals as part of a trade deal? ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brexit-general-discussion-thread/824424/426 "2018-12-07T13:55:54Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Is Britain being flexible on free movement of individuals as part of a trade deal? That will depend on who is negotiating the trade deal. May has been, throughout the whole process, absolutely insistent that Freedom of Movement will end. This is probably the biggest factor in determining the scope of the deal the EU is willing to offer her as it effectively rules out Single Market membership. Corbyn, by contrast, has not insisted on ending Freedom of Movement. He is being a little coy about it - his recent Guardian [editorial](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/06/jeremy-corbyn-general-election-brexit-labour-theresa-may)speaks of “…setting migration policies to meet the needs of the economy, not fuelling xenophobia with phoney immigration targets or thresholds”. That’s not coming out and saying he’ll end Freedom of Movement, but it’s not saying he’ll sign up to it either. ---
**Author:** ![filmstar-en](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/50afbb/32.png) [@filmstar-en](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmstar-en)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brexit-general-discussion-thread/824424/427 "2018-12-08T03:08:21Z")
There are about 4 Million EU nationals resident in the UK and there are about 1 Million UK Nationals resident in EU countries. The EU Nationals are mainlyy of working age and paying tax. The UK Nationals in the EU are mainly retired folk escaping the cold northern climate. They are very dependent on the health services in the EU countries. If they had to pay for private health insurance many could not afford it. May spends a lot of time trying to appease the Brexit supporters with forceful pronouncements about how we are going to secure our borders, only allow in the most qualified people and resolutely oppose the ‘Free mobility of Labour’ that the EU is so fond of. On the other hand, she knows full well that UK is in a much weaker bargaining position. If Spain were to ask UK residents to pay for private medical insurance it would result in thousands of elderly, sick people returning back to the UK creating a big crisis in the NHS. If EU residents left the UK there would be severe shortages of workers in many key areas of the economy. UK politicians position on immigration has always been to loudly say they are going to control immigration and quietly do exactly the opposite. May spent years in the Home Office running a department that is widely regarded as something of a joke in Government circles. ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brexit-general-discussion-thread/824424/428 "2018-12-08T08:05:22Z")
> [@](#): > > **Originally posted by Matt Chorley in today’s Times** > > T’was the night before Brexmas when all through the House; not a creature backed May, not even a mouse. > > The stakes were quite high, but she didn’t care; she still seemed to think that the votes would be there. > > The Leavers were nestled all snug in their beds; while sugar-plum unicorns danced in their heads; > > And Remainer-in-chief, that Adonis chap; had filled up our brains with conspiracy crap. > > When out on College Green there arose such a clatter; as Peston and Kuenssberg stood around for a natter. > > Gazebos and scaffolding put up in a flash; to interview bored journos in need of some cash. > > The moon on the breast of Channel 4’s Jon Snow; and no one dare admit: “I just don’t know”. > > And what to my wondering eyes did appear; but a minority government pulled by Brexiteers. > > With a tall awkward driver so tired and grey; I knew in a moment, it’s Theresa May. > > More rapid than eagles critics all came, And she winced and shouted, and called them by name: > > “Now, Soubry! Now Greening! Now Rees-Mogg and Leadsom! Oh look, it’s stupid Francois, Dorries and Bridgen! > > “If you don’t back my deal the government might fall; it’s my deal, or no deal or no Brexit at all.” > > But Leavers still hope their wild schemes might fly; but when faced with an obstacle, they quit and rush on to Sky. > > There is Norway or Canada or WTO; each pursued with a purity as white as the snow. > > And then, in a twinkling, I heard in this spoof, the prancing and fawning of millennial youth. > > As I drew in a yawn, and was starting to flag, down the cycle lane came St Jeremy with a carrier bag. > > The sackful of gifts hung on the bike as he rolled. “Present”, he said, “but I wasn’t involved.” > > He was dressed like a mess, from his feet to his head, but his hat had been photoshopped by Newsnight, they said. > > He was thin-skinned and self-righteous, a right grumpy old elf; the withdrawal agreement lay unread on a shelf. > > His droll little mouth gets tied up in knots; about whether to back a People’s Vote, or not. > > A glimpse of the ideas inside Seumas’s head; soon gave me to know I had plenty to dread. > > But where is the big man who was always so jolly; who writes the same column every week for much lolly? > > His lies how they twinkled! His infidelities so merry! Have cake and eat it, and here is a cherry! > > He has a broad face beloved of the telly, but about as useful in cabinet as a bowl full of jelly. > > He flew cross-country on a bus bright red; but when it got a bit tricky he left us for dead. > > He spoke not a word while May did all the work; as she fought and failed and danced with strange jerks. > > No one can be quite sure if even she knows; what she’s doing but she’s still gone up in the polls. > > She stepped into the breach, when Cameron said “go whistle”; she was left with no choice but to grasp this big thistle. > > But no one could blame her, if she drove out of sight: “I’ve revoked Article 50, and to all a good night!” Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brexit-general-discussion-thread/824424/429 "2018-12-08T09:00:41Z")
Brilliant! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![dominic65](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7bcc69/32.png) [@dominic65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dominic65)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brexit-general-discussion-thread/824424/430 "2018-12-08T17:24:14Z")
1. Please stop saying that the referendum was non-binding. The government sent out a leaflet to all households, at the households’ own expense mind you, making the case for Remain but saying “we will implement your decision [on whether to leave the EU].” That doesn’t sound “advisory” to me. Everyone understood at the time that the referendum was for real. It was non-binding only in some legalistic sense that desperate people might resort to. In the real world, it was politically binding. MPs get this, even if you don’t. 1. The idea that Leave had an unfair advantage, due to Aaron Banks’ money, or possibly Russia, is preposterous. If one side had an unfair advantage, it was probably Remain, with the machinery of Whitehall at its disposal (and sometimes with quite direct taxpayer funding, as with the propaganda leaflet mentioned in point (1) ). I don’t know how much that is worth in political campaigning money terms, but it must be huge. In comparison, a few million here or there on the Leave side is chicken feed. I think that if the referendum had been run strictly fairly, Leave might have won by a bigger margin. ---
**Author:** ![Ramira](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ramira/32/344_2.png) [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brexit-general-discussion-thread/824424/431 "2018-12-08T17:32:39Z")
> [@dominic65](#): > > 1. Please stop saying that the referendum was non-binding. > > The government sent out a leaflet to all households, Leaflets are not the law. They are simply an advertising. the political aspect your posters have noted. The advisoyr is the issue of the law. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2018, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brexit-general-discussion-thread/824424/432 "2018-12-10T02:43:43Z")
> [@dominic65](#): > > 1. Please stop saying that the referendum was non-binding. > > The government sent out a leaflet to all households, at the households’ own expense mind you, making the case for Remain but saying “we will implement your decision [on whether to leave the EU].” That doesn’t sound “advisory” to me. Everyone understood at the time that the referendum was for real. > It was non-binding only in some legalistic sense that desperate people might resort to. In the real world, it was politically binding. MPs get this, even if you don’t. Sure, it’s _politically_ binding. Hence the pressure for a second referendum from those who recognise that the only legiitimate way to supersede a politically binding mandate is with a fresh, and equally politically binding, mandate. But it’s not _legally_ binding. This isn’t just nitpicking; it’s important. If the referendum had any legal effect, then legal mechanisms would have been available to address problems or deficiencies in the referendum process. In an election, if there are electoral abuses you can go to court to get the outcome of the election anulled, and the election repeated. This mechanism isn’t available in relation to the referendum, because it had no legal outcome that a court could anull. It was always up to Parliament to assess what mandate the referendum conferred - a political judgment. Which means that you can’t give parliament a free pass, arguing that its responsibility for Brexit is effectively dissolved by the referendum outcome. Parliament has to be satisfied that whatever is done is mandated by the referendum outcome. Which means yes, they have to be satisfied that the referendum outcome is not rendered politically illegitimate by corrupt practices. But it also means yes, they have to be satisfied that the referendum confers a mandate for the particular form of Brexit that is being implemented. YOu can’t (without attracting ridicule or worse) take the view that the referendum confers an irresistible mandate to leave the UK on whatever terms can be managed, however disastrous, however different from the terms promoted in support of the “Leave” vote, however damaging they may be to particular communities in the UK. If you actually want to remove power from Parliament, and/or absolve Parliament from the responsibility for making judgments and decisions that, legally, remain its to make,. you need to seek a legally binding, self-executing referendum. That’s not what the UK had. The referendum gives Parliament a mandate, but it doesn’t deprive parliament of control or absolve it of responsiblity. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2018, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brexit-general-discussion-thread/824424/433 "2018-12-10T08:11:33Z")
> [@](#): > > The European Court of Justice said Monday that the U.K. can cancel Brexit without asking for permission from other European Union (EU) member states. > > The decision followed the guidance given last week by a non-binding opinion to the court from a top European law officer. > **[Europe's top court confirms that UK can stop Brexit ](https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/10/ecj-confirms-that-uk-can-stop-brexit.html)** > > The decision follows an opinion supplied to the judges by a senior legal officer last week. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2018, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brexit-general-discussion-thread/824424/434 "2018-12-10T08:18:12Z")
Here is the Court’s press release: > **[cp180191en.pdf](https://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2018-12/cp180191en.pdf)** > > 169.31 KB Full judgement: [http://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf;jsessionid=69749574B86C20264EB2513D7AB40E28?text=&docid=208636&pageIndex=0&doclang=en&mode=req&dir=&occ=first&part=1&cid=1185192](http://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf;jsessionid=69749574B86C20264EB2513D7AB40E28?text=&docid=208636&pageIndex=0&doclang=en&mode=req&dir=&occ=first&part=1&cid=1185192) ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2018, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brexit-general-discussion-thread/824424/435 "2018-12-10T09:32:49Z")
This changes everything! And nothing. It is interesting that the UK has a clear(ish) route to remain. It opens up a possibility that didn’t exist before. But, similar to UDS’ and dominic65’s discussion above, there is an important distinction between the legally possible and the politically possible, and A50 revocation has not (I would say) achieved the latter. There are two routes to A50 revocation. The first is a second referendum, with Remain on the ballot. There are some hard questions to be asked about what else should be on that ballot - indeed, whether there should be only two options, or three. In any event, it is unlikely that even if we could quickly agree on the basic form of the question, we would be able to agree and authorise the process of the referendum before March 2019. Would it, for example, be legally binding and self-executing? Or would it merely deliver a political mandate? To establish that, and pass the necessary supporting legislation, and set up campaigns etc. etc. would require us to ask for an extension to the March 2019 deadline. We would probably get one, but not an infinite one, so we’re looking at a fairly rushed campaign. Can the various pro-Remain forces get their act together to deliver a winning campaign? One that doesn’t involve any implication of “you idiots got it wrong last time, now for god’s sake listen to your betters and give us the right answer”?. Can they win in the face of the obvious betrayal narrative that Leave will be running with? Option 2 is for Parliament to exercise its sovereignty, in a return to representative democracy. There are various obstacles to this: MP’s unwillingness to enter the job market is just one of them. I wouldn’t even like to say whether the sum [Pro-Remain MPs] plus [better-Remain-than-this-dog’s-dinner MPs] equals a parliamentary majority even before the whips get involved. It would all get pretty nasty and there would be a backlash of people who felt that they were being ignored by Westminster (not entirely unfairly). I discount the lurid predictions of rioting in the streets, but there’s no question that it would add to the political disenchantment that got us into this mess in the first place. So, and I could easily be wrong, my feeling is that this opens a door that [del]no-one[/del] not enough people will be willing or able to walk through. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2018, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brexit-general-discussion-thread/824424/437 "2018-12-10T10:59:29Z")
> [@guitarteacher](#): > > Brexit will be bad for our Music school. We depend on overseas students living in South London to attend our Guitar Lessons. You can see what we do on this page of our website: The UK should have a second referendum in my opinion. Well, that is a new one I’ll admit. Brexit on guitar player.:p;):D. Welcome to the Dope! ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2018, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brexit-general-discussion-thread/824424/438 "2018-12-10T11:01:17Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > Here is the Court’s press release: > [https://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2018-12/cp180191en.pdf](https://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2018-12/cp180191en.pdf) > > Full judgement: > [http://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf;jsessionid=69749574B86C20264EB2513D7AB40E28?text=&docid=208636&pageIndex=0&doclang=en&mode=req&dir=&occ=first&part=1&cid=1185192](http://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf;jsessionid=69749574B86C20264EB2513D7AB40E28?text=&docid=208636&pageIndex=0&doclang=en&mode=req&dir=&occ=first&part=1&cid=1185192) Brexit reminds me of a _very_ thick and self confident schoolboy taking a test. The Master has been hinting the correct answers for the entire class and has now outright told him and he still stubbornly refuses. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2018, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brexit-general-discussion-thread/824424/439 "2018-12-10T12:08:30Z")
I can’t see this as anything but a Get Out of Gaol Free card. For fuck’s sake use it. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2018, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brexit-general-discussion-thread/824424/440 "2018-12-10T12:15:20Z")
Looks like tomorrow’s vote on the Withdrawal Agreement has been/is about to be pulled. The PM is making a statement on Exiting the European Union to the House at 3:30 GMT. Chaos reigns, drums in the deep, the centre cannot hold. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2018, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brexit-general-discussion-thread/824424/441 "2018-12-10T12:18:28Z")
Doesn’t the ruling give the UK the ability to effectively unilaterally extend the Article 50 period by two years? The government could pull the plug and start over, like Brexit is a broken modem. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brexit-general-discussion-thread/824424.md?page=21) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brexit-general-discussion-thread/824424.md?page=23)