Remember CRAG? It's a fresh headache for the Govt's bid to pass the Brexit deal by October 31. The Constitutional Reform and Governance Act (2010) requires any treaty be laid before the House for 21 days before it can be ratified. The Brexit deal is such as treaty 1.
The Govt accept this, so I learn there is a clause in the WAB that specifically dis-applies it from the Brexit deal. So 21 days will be shrunk to less than 1 day. The bill will be published tonight, and ratification will begin with 2nd reading tomorrow afternoon 2.
The Commons are unlikely to block the bill on this point, but I'm told the Govt is a little more worried about how the Lords will take it, who are "bound to kick up rough" about it, according to one Tory peer, being sticklers for these kind of things 3.
