Thread by @Usherwood

Let's have another read of Art.50, shall we?

1/

Davis today said that negotiations might run right up to last minute, on 29 March 2019

2/

When pressed, he said that meant the UK Parliament might not get to vote on the deal until after the UK had left the EU

3/

Obviously, Davis had forgotten to bring his copy of the treaty with him, since this is not a viable strategy

4/

Art.50.2 states that the deal is between the EU and the UK. The EU here is the Council, after getting EP assent

5/

As will be noticed, it has been COM running negotiations, on a mandate from EUCO, ie the negotiator is not the who who approves the text

6/

Any 'deal' that Barnier & Davis agree has to go to EP and EUCO to get approved, regardless of what powers Davis is given

7/

Why? Because Art.50.3 states that the UK leaves after 2yrs from notification or 'date of entry info force of withdrawal agt'

8/

So the deal not only needs to be signed by EUCO + EP, but also needs to be in force

9/

Davis knows this, so his comments are all the more confusing and serve only to raise Parliament's hackles

10/

However, it'll play well to sections of media. But it'll be another thing to row back on

11/

Willing to bet that there's no midnight deal on 29/3/19 (assuming no extensions). I'll not offer to eat anything

12/

In short, Davis highlights profoundly UK-centric approach to Art.50 negotiations: it's not all in his gift.

/end