Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE

Britain 'can change mind over Brexit'

The man who drafted Article 50 says it can be revoked, and that Britain can change it's mind about Brexit.

Britain could still change its mind about Brexit after triggering its formal divorce talks with the European Union, the man who drafted Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty says.

Prime Minister Theresa May has said she will invoke Article 50 by the end of March, kicking off two years of divorce negotiations.

"You can change your mind while the process is going on," John Kerr, a former British ambassador to the EU who drafted Article 50, told BBC TV.

"During that period, if a country were to decide actually we don't want to leave after all, everybody would be very cross about it being a waste of time," he said.

"They might try to extract a political price but legally they couldn't insist that you leave."

The High Court will rule on Thursday whether May has to get parliament's approval before triggering Article 50, which both the claimants and the government have said is irreversible once invoked.

Kerr wants either parliament or the public - through an election or a second referendum - to revisit the decision to leave the EU in a year to 18 months time, the BBC said.

Kerr said that Article 50 was "not irrevocable". He wants either parliament or the public - through an election or a second referendum - to revisit the decision to leave the EU in a year to 18 months time, the BBC said.


2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Watch now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world