Thread by @Usherwood

Some points from May's #R4Today thing:

1/

Extension of Transition is decided by the Joint Cte (Art.132), which is composed of representatives of UK and EU (ie it's not solely a UK decision)

2/

So even if role for Parliament in discussing extension, it'll also need EU agreement too

3/

On the backstop, I read the Protocol as an automatic coming-into-effect, following the end of transition and the absence of a 'subsequent agt' (Art.2).

4/

Art.6 says "Until the future relationship becomes applicable, a single customs territory between the Union and the United Kingdom shall be established"

The implication is that no active decision is required for this to begin

5/

So use of the backstop is not in the hands of either the UK or EU, since it will be at the point of ratification of the WA that they accept the principle of operation in default of alternatives

6/

Art. 2(2) starts "Any subsequent agreement between the Union and the United Kingdom shall indicate the parts of this Protocol which it supersedes"

importantly, this suggests only a jt agt will supersede the Protocol, rather than any unilateral move

7/

In sum, Parliament knows now what the limits to its power in these matters are

/end