The EU is leaving the UK on 29/03 (at Britain's request) according to a reasonable Withdrawal Agreement which it now proceeds to ratify. Modifications to the Political Declaration apart (see January), the EU will make no other deal. 1/
It has always been possible for the UK to revoke Article 50. But Wightman means that any revocation must be final and unconditional and based on a genuine change of direction by the UK parliament on the same bipartisan basis that triggered Brexit in the first place. 2/
In case of such a weighty revocation, UK terms of membership would remain as they are now (including the opt-outs but not the budgetary rebate). This means that newly and directly-elected British MEPs have to turn up in Strasbourg on 2 July. 3/
The contingency arrangement (see the foremost experts) concerns the composition of the House but not the fact that if the UK is still a member state on 1 July and no MEPs show up, the European Parliament will be illegitimate. 4/
A British request to extend Article 50 would have to be considered in this context. Terms and conditions would certainly be attached by the European Council, including a timetable - which would be short. 5/
It is true that the EU will be careful to avoid the accusation that it is expelling the UK against its will. But neither must it trap the UK inside the EU against the Brexit vote. So it's much more complicated than @BestForBritain claims. @AFDeighton @Simon_Gardner
