The controversial Article 50 that saw the millions match in the streets of London in peaceful demonstrations prompting over five million signatures petition calling for Brexit to be stopped, has been rejected by the UK government.
Article 50 outlines the steps to be taken by a country seeking to leave the European Union (EU) voluntarily. Invoking it kick-starts the formal exit process and serves as a way for countries to officially declare their intention to leave the EU.
Revoking Article 50 would break the promises made by Government to the British people, disrespecting the clear instruction from a democratic vote, and in turn, reduce confidence in the country’s democracy.
Even after setting cutting the threshold and becoming the best-supported proposal in the history of the House of Commons and Government’s e-petitions website, the government rejected the petition in an official response posted on the parliamentary petitions website.
“This Government will not revoke Article 50, the Article 50 letter can be withdrawn by the UK unilaterally, without the need for EU agreement, leaving Britain free to continue as a member on its current terms. Revoking Article 50, and thereby remaining in the European Union, would undermine both our democracy and the trust that millions of voters have placed in Government,” read the response.
The petition is due to be debated by MPs on April 1, in which a government minister will be required to respond to the petition, but there will be no vote on the action it demands. MPs will also debate a petition calling for a second EU referendum, which has received more than 120,000 signatures, and another signed by more than 140,000 demanding that the UK leave with or without a deal on March 29.
British Prime Minister Theresa May had cautioned her citizens that failing to deliver Brexit would cause ‘potentially irreparable damage to public trust’ and it is imperative that people can trust their Government to respect their votes and deliver the best outcome.
