Today was another set back for the UK’s Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit Withdrawal Agreement suffers third heavy loss in the House of Commons. The frustration being exhibited by the pro-Brexit crowd was on obvious display via numerous protests, some of the pro-Brexit protesters outside Parliament were observed harassing journalists covering the demonstration; an MP was claiming that she was accosted outside of Parliament; Nigel Farage was in the mix addressing a pro-Brexit group. Meanwhile German officials have been pushing for the UK to have more extensions but France wants there to be a limit; and other EU members have been expressing regret.
On this same day, the Vote Leave officials ended its appeal over having been charged by an Elections Commission for ruling that this group that helped lead the Brexit movement had broken the electoral rules set out by Parliament.
“That group included Brexiteers such as Steve Baker and Mark Francois — who broke with colleagues including Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg by standing firm against the deal — as well as pro-Remain lawmakers such as Dominic Grieve and Justine Greening.”
“Here’s how each party voted:”
“Ayes – 286 in total: 277 Conservative MPs; five Labour MPs; four Independent MPs.”
“Noes – 344 in total: 34 Conservative MPs; 234 Labour MPs; 34 Scottish National Party MPs; 11 Liberal Democrat MPs; 10 DUP MPs; four Plaid Cymru MPs; one Green Party MP; 16 independent MPs, including the 11 lawmakers that make up the Independent Group.”
UK House of Commons✔@HouseofCommons
Wondering how your MP voted on the EU #WithdrawalAgreement?
Use our handy CommonsVotes tool to find out: https://commonsvotes.digiminster.com/Divisions/Details/664 …
Result of Division 395 – Ayes 286, Noes 344
United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union
commonsvotes.digiminster.com
Can Brexit be canceled? It’s not quite that simple (I’ve been asking the question, can the UK reverse course.)
Here’s an analysis from CNN’s Luke McGee:
“There’s a lot of talk flying around about canceling Brexit by revoking Article 50 – the mechanism by which a member state can leave the EU.”
The European Court of Justice ruled in December that it was acceptable for a member state to unilaterally revoke Article 50.
It’s the favored option of the Scottish National Party, and the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. “The PM must now do the right thing – immediately revoke Article 50 and give the British public the final say on Brexit,” Khan said.
Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.
While, in the ECJ’s advocate general’s opinion, unilateral withdrawal is fine, the key paragraph of his conclusion reads as follows:
“When a Member State has notified the European Council of its intention to withdraw from the European Union, Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union allows the unilateral revocation of that notification, until such time as the withdrawal agreement is formally concluded, provided that the revocation has been decided upon in accordance with the Member State’s constitutional requirements, is formally notified to the European Council and does not involve an abusive practice.“
The “constitutional requirements” condition means it’s likely parliament would have to approve revocation – something that it has rejected before.
The ECJ agreed on this point and offered further clarification on another.
“To revoke that notification unilaterally, in an unequivocal and unconditional manner, by a notice addressed to the European Council in writing, after the Member State concerned has taken the revocation decision in accordance with its constitutional requirements. The purpose of that revocation is to confirm the EU membership of the Member State concerned under terms that are unchanged as regards its status as a Member State, and that revocation brings the withdrawal procedure to an end.”
Place the fact that withdrawal must also be “unequivocal” and “unconditional” the Advocate General’s comments about “abusive practice”, this makes things tricky. In the opinion of the Institute for Government, this “implies that the UK could not revoke to get a breathing space in order to prepare better to resend the Article 50 notification in due course.”
All of this stuff is unprecedented and a little bit murky. But one thing is clear: As with all things Brexit, nothing is straightforward.
Here’s what a popular reporter tweeted about Vote Leave movement:
Hahahahahaha!!! Omg. The TIMING! On the day Britain was set to leave European Union, the official campaign finally admits it broke the law. Deliberately. Massively. And overseen by Theresa May’s closest advisor & one of her ministers. Incredible
On March 29, 2019, BBC published the following report, “Brexit: Vote Leave drops appeal against referendum spending fine”
Excerpts:
Vote Leave has dropped its appeal against a £61,000 fine for breaking electoral law over spending limits, the Electoral Commission has said.
The official pro-Brexit campaign for the UK’s EU referendum was fined in July for exceeding its £7m spending limit for the vote.
The campaign said at the time the watchdog’s findings were “wholly inaccurate” and politically motivated.
It said in a statement it had run out of money to pursue the appeal.
The announcement came as MPs rejected Prime Minister Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement on the day the UK had been due to leave the EU.
The Vote Leave campaign, fronted by Boris Johnson and Michael Gove, was found by the Electoral Commission to have funnelled £675,315 through pro-Brexit youth group BeLeave, days before the referendum in 2016, which helped ensure it did not breach its £7m spending limit.
“The founder of BeLeave, Darren Grimes, was fined £20,000 and referred to the police, along with Vote Leave official David Halsall.”
‘Serious offences’
“Vote Leave bosses say they were given the go-ahead to give the money to BeLeave and they had acted within the rules.”
“But the Commission found there was “significant evidence of joint working” between Mr Grimes and Vote Leave and that Vote Leave should have declared the spending as its own.”
“An Electoral Commission spokesman said: “Vote Leave has today withdrawn its appeal and related proceedings against the Electoral Commission’s finding of multiple offences under electoral law, committed during the 2016 EU referendum campaign.”
“Vote Leave was the designated lead campaigner for the leave outcome at the referendum.”
“We found that it broke the electoral rules set out by Parliament to ensure fairness, confidence and legitimacy at an electoral event. Serious offences such as these undermine public confidence in our system and it is vital, therefore, that they are properly investigated and sanctioned.”
“We have been advised that Vote Leave has paid its £61,000 fine and look forward to receiving the sum in full.”
- Vote Leave’s Cummings urges new party
- Vote Leave fined over 194,154 spam texts
- Vote Leave campaign broke electoral law
See Forbes: Here’s Why Brexit Has More Plot Twists Than ‘Game Of Thrones’
See: Vote Leave drops appeal against fine for electoral offences
Guardian–
Gronda Morin 
Gday mate, yes, the whole Brexit saga is causing harm now and into the future of Great Britain. Teresa May has done her best to provide good leadership and intelligence into the issue, however, she has been let down by self serving peacocks of parliament on both sides. The opposite of America, where the majority of politicians are endeavouring to gain foothold over one self serving peacock. Interesting times not, these positions were constructed by influence and media. How long before the public majority (voters) wake from their slumber. How long before the majority simply become nothingness to the games of the privileged and wealthy. All my pommie friends were mortified at the Brexit vote, and it is interesting that several of the loudest political voices for that vote are now hiding in the shadows… Hugs mate.
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