Thread by @Usherwood

On this special day, let's consider time

How quickly could we have 'got Brexit done' and how quickly are we getting it done?

1/

@UKandEU

@UKandEU In theory, we could have been done with withdrawal a long time ago. Art.50 gives 2 yrs, but sooner was possible.

If you took the actual period of active negotiations (June 17-Nov 18) and stuck on 3 mths for ratification, then with immediate notification, I reckon Feb 2018

2/

@UKandEU Of course, that didn't happen. As the graphic shows, all the delay was due to UK events.

Biggest delay (to date) was the non-notification under Art.50

3/

@UKandEU Second biggest has been extension requests, driven by UK ratification problems

4/

@UKandEU Some of that comes from legal challenges (most obviously Miller 1), but the larger factor has been the lack of government majority, itself the result of the outcome of #GE17 (the 'Brexit election' [sic])

5/

@UKandEU One to chew on in the coming months

/end