The Article 50 vote is not a rerun of the #Brexit referendum. Here are 5 reasons why even pro-Brexit MPs should not trigger it now. 1/7
1. Starting the 2-year Article 50 clock right before French & German elections means no meaningful negotiations possible for 7 months. 2/7
2. If A50 is irrevocable once triggered, as currently assumed, the UK's negotiating hand is incredibly weak & the EU-27 won't play ball. 3/7
3. If A50 is irrevocable, voting for A50 means signing up now to an unknown deal in 2019. Mad in normal times, let alone volatile ones. 4/7
4. The Govt's Brexit plan in its promised White Paper, & Parliament's debate of it, should precede not follow a Commons vote on A50. 5/7
5. Once A50 is triggered, & 2019 Brexit is fixed, MPs will be powerless to influence the negotiations or reject whatever deal emerges. 6/7
A better route: say no to A50 now, establish ECJ view on A50 revocability, properly debate White Paper & aim to trigger A50 in Jan 2018. 7/7
