As March 29th rushes up some Brexiteers are still clinging to the idea we can drop out of the EU with no Withdrawal Agreement and somehow implement Article 24 of GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) to carry on dealing with Brussels and Europe for ten years as if nothing has happened. It has been comprehensively debunked many times, not least by Sir Ivan Rogers, yet still it keeps popping up.
The last time was just a few days ago when David Campbell-Bannerman tweeted:
In Emergency, if your deal fails, Break Glass!? pic.twitter.com/xtSImlpKWI— David C Bannerman (@DCBMEP) March 4, 2019
Campbell-Bannerman was a member of UKIP and wrote their 2010 manifesto, described by Nigel Farage as 'drivel' (HERE). He is now a Conservative MEP for the East of England. You can tell how easily these men slip between the Tories and UKIP, they are more or less one party.
In the tweet he suggests GATT Article 24 is some sort of emergency lifeline.
Paul Rübig, an Austrian member of the European Parliament and co-chair of its WTO steering committee has now replied with an article in The Telegraph (HERE). He explains why Article 24 is not the answer to Campbell-Bannerman:
"When some Brexiters now claim that Article XXIV GATT is a 'secret weapon' when it comes to no-deal Brexit then I have to say: No. It is not secret and not new. The UK has been in Art. XXIV relation with EU – since 1973.
"To be precise: Yes, it is possible that the United Kingdom and European Union could introduce a procedure under Article 24 GATT. But it would not be a no-deal Brexit as this procedure under that article requires an agreement between both parties. And an agreement between the parties implies that there is a deal. And a deal Brexit is not a no-deal Brexit".
Withdrawing from European level democratic decision making - isn't that a terrific way of putting Brexit into context? How right he is.
We will be following EU rules and regulations whatever happens although we will play no part in making them. Brexit is giving up any control of the continent that we will forever be a part of. Europe will become whatever the EU make it over the next century or more but we will play no part in the shaping of it.
In the tweet he suggests GATT Article 24 is some sort of emergency lifeline.
Paul Rübig, an Austrian member of the European Parliament and co-chair of its WTO steering committee has now replied with an article in The Telegraph (HERE). He explains why Article 24 is not the answer to Campbell-Bannerman:
"When some Brexiters now claim that Article XXIV GATT is a 'secret weapon' when it comes to no-deal Brexit then I have to say: No. It is not secret and not new. The UK has been in Art. XXIV relation with EU – since 1973.
"To be precise: Yes, it is possible that the United Kingdom and European Union could introduce a procedure under Article 24 GATT. But it would not be a no-deal Brexit as this procedure under that article requires an agreement between both parties. And an agreement between the parties implies that there is a deal. And a deal Brexit is not a no-deal Brexit".
In other words it is out of the question - like so much of what Brexiteers claim from time to time as they lead us on a ridiculous route out of the wealthiest and greatest multi-country single market in the world.
However, it isn't just for Mr Rübig's explanation about Article 24 that I post this because he begins his Telegraph piece with a neat description of Brexit:
"The United Kingdom for over 40 years played an important role in the European Union and is now on the edge of withdrawing from European level democratic decision making. In Brexit, I see nothing less than a combative lose-lose situation. I deeply oppose that kind of thinking and always will prefer a win-win-situation for both sides".
Withdrawing from European level democratic decision making - isn't that a terrific way of putting Brexit into context? How right he is.
We will be following EU rules and regulations whatever happens although we will play no part in making them. Brexit is giving up any control of the continent that we will forever be a part of. Europe will become whatever the EU make it over the next century or more but we will play no part in the shaping of it.
