'Like students writing drafts!' Prof ridicules state of Brexit negotiations
Helen Drake, of Loughborough University, made the remarks during a Brexit debate hosted by the Institute for Government. Prof Drake, one of the debate panellists, said: “I keep finding myself at the same point which is the UK does have a lot of cards as a negotiating party. “All it has to try and do is to play those cards in the right order. “It is about overcoming obstacles, only once discussions start and the UK starts playing its hand and it starts being a full negotiating party will we know what the concessions can be on the other side.
GETTY • IFG Helen Drake said the UK has a lot of cards to play in the Brexit negotiations
“For now it’s like students who just do drafts and drafts of essays and never actually write the essay. “It’s hard to know how to respond to it and what feedback to give. There is a lot to play for… nothing is set in stone.” During the debate on Tuesday night, an audience member also claimed the UK could remain in the European Union if it rips up the Article 50 notification. The man, who identified himself as the Danish ambassador, said: “Just a comment on the issue of coming back as a member, I think Article 50 is quite clear on that issue.
For now it’s like students who just do drafts and drafts of essays Helen Drake
“As long as we have not terminated the negotiations on the divorce bill, the UK is a full member of the European Union in its own right today. “So if the UK withdraws its notification before the end of the Article 50 negotiations I assume they will stay as a member as they are today. “But it depends on the UK’s own decisions. If we have an agreement on the divorce settlement within the two-year deadline, then Article 50 is very clear, you have to reapply as a candidate country.” The audience member also took aim at the UK for not having started the Brexit negotiations yet. He said: “While you are sitting here talking, they are also sitting in other places in Whitehall talking, we are actually waiting for you to come to the negotiating table in Brussels on Article 50. “The two-year deadline is on the divorce settlement, not on the future, that is a different issue.”
Brexit debate in pictures Mon, April 17, 2017 The debate in the European Parliament in Strasbourg will focus on key issues of the Brexit talks including reciprocal rights for EU citizens, the peace process in Northern Ireland and trade Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 23 Former leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) Nigel Farage (L) gestures as he speaks with EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker (R) prior to a debate on the conclusions of the last European Council, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg