Theresa May today ducked giving a straight answer about whether Britain has a legal right to change its mind about Brexit.
In a written reply, the Prime Minister declined to reveal whether Article 50, which notified the EU of Britain’s intention to go, could be reversed.
Mrs May was accused of hiding the legal position from the British public for fear of giving ammunition to anti-Brexiteers.
She dodged the question six times in the Commons last Monday, merely saying the Government had “no intention” of stopping Brexit.
Her latest non-answer was in writing, however, which MPs say shows she is concealing the true position rather than uncertain how to reply. Asked by Labour MP Chris Leslie to reveal “her understanding” of the law, Mrs May referred him to her previous answers in the Commons.
Thousands of anti-Brexit activists march to Parliament in protest
Asked to clarify, Downing Street replied this morning: “We are not revoking. End of story.”
Mr Leslie said: “The PM is not denying that parliament has a right to retract the Article 50 notice letter. Legal experts are increasingly saying that a letter of intention is completely different to a binding commitment. Lord Kerr, who drafted Article 50, agrees.”
Lib Dem leader Vince Cable, whose party is committed to reversing Brexit, said: “Theresa May is trying to pull the wool over people’s eyes by dodging this crucial question.”
Tory MP Anna Soubry said the key battle for her party was to stop a “no-deal” hard Brexit but the ability to halt Brexit would become significant if a good deal is not struck. “I sense many people around the country are… wondering if they made a mistake in voting Leave based on a pack of falsehoods,” she said.
MORE ABOUT