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| Article 50 was never supposed to be used, says the man who wrote it | Article 50 was never supposed to be used, says the man who wrote it |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A former Italian premier has claimed that Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which, if triggered, would initiate Britain’s exit from the EU, was designed not for actual employment but as a deterrent - and he should know, he wrote the thing. | A former Italian premier has claimed that Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which, if triggered, would initiate Britain’s exit from the EU, was designed not for actual employment but as a deterrent - and he should know, he wrote the thing. |
| Giuliano Amato was the man behind the European Union divorce clause, which if enacted by a British prime minister would begin a two-year countdown to our formal departure from the 28-nation bloc. | Giuliano Amato was the man behind the European Union divorce clause, which if enacted by a British prime minister would begin a two-year countdown to our formal departure from the 28-nation bloc. |
| "I wrote Article 50, so I know it well," he told a conference in Rome last week. | "I wrote Article 50, so I know it well," he told a conference in Rome last week. |
| "My intention was that it should be a classic safety valve that was there, but never used. It is like having a fire extinguisher that should never have to be used. Instead, the fire happened." | "My intention was that it should be a classic safety valve that was there, but never used. It is like having a fire extinguisher that should never have to be used. Instead, the fire happened." |
| Amato advised that Brussels offer no concessions to London in upcoming negotiations, as this is the only way Britain might reconsider the decision it made through referendum. | |
| "When it comes to the economy they have to lose," he said. | "When it comes to the economy they have to lose," he said. |
| The former Italian prime minister described Brexit as a "disaster", called David Cameron "mad" for calling a referendum over it and urged other countries not to follow suit. | The former Italian prime minister described Brexit as a "disaster", called David Cameron "mad" for calling a referendum over it and urged other countries not to follow suit. |
| Of impending talks, he said: "Don't give Britain the possibility of thinking that Brexit is a better way of doing what they have always done, grabbing what suits them (in the EU) and opting out of what they don't like. Brexit is a total opting out. They know this very well. | |
| "The more they realize that they are losing, then the more chance there is that in 2020 [when there will be a general election] someone will do something about it." | |
| He conceded that this was an "absurd hope", and as such wants "the negotiations [to be] dragged on so they won't be wrapped up by 2020. (Prime Minister) May wants to wrap things up by 2019, but it will be easy to prolong matters." | |
| (H/T @DavidAllenGreen) |