The Letter Boris Should Now Sign.

In June 2016 the British people voted to Leave the European Union (EU). In the largest democratic exercise to ever take place in the UK.

In the three years since then a group of roughly 300 British MP's have tried to thwart this Brexit. Desperate to keep Britain within the EU. At any cost.

Their latest wheeze has been The European Union (Withdrawal) (No 6) Bill.

Authored by Labour's Hilary Benn this is sometimes known as the Benn Bill, the Benn Act or the Act of Surrender.

Regardless of what it is called it reveals the reason why those 300 MP's are desperate to keep Britain within the EU.

Since Britain joined what became the EU in British MP's or lawmakers have had very little role in making British laws.

Instead new laws are recommended by the EU Parliament. Introduced by the EU Commission. Then passed by the EU Council. Finally they are automatically turned into British laws through the mechanism of the European Communities Act of 1972.

So it hasn't mattered if British MP's are complete failures at representing the interests of the British people. The EU will always been on hand to bail them out and let them keep picking up the pay cheques.

Over the course of the last, nearly 50 years, this absence of responsibility has created a current crop of British MP's who are simply lacking the talent and skills needed to draft and pass even basic legislation.

The Benn Bill is a prime example of this complete lack of ability.

The intention of the Benn Bill was to maintain the status quo. To keep Britain's relationship with the EU the same. Regardless of what voters may think.

Instead though it dramatically alters Britain's relationship with the EU. Significantly removing power from the British Monarch, Parliament and voters and placing it in the hands of the EU.

For example it surrenders Britain's power to select the EU Commissioners who introduce new laws.

It surrenders Britain's power to veto the passing of those new laws by the EU Council.

It surrenders Britain's power to prevent those new EU laws becoming British laws by revoking the 1972 European Communities Act.

Something which is now tied to Britain leaving the EU. If Brexit is delayed then the European Communities Act remains in force for the duration of any extension.

The Benn Bill also, obviously, surrenders Britain's power to Leave the EU.

By surrendering Britain's power to Leave the EU the Benn Bill also surrenders Britain's ability to veto the next EU budget. Let alone Britain's right not to contribute to that EU budget.

Negotiations over the next EU budget cycle begin, really, on November 1st 2019 (1/11/19). Once committed to that new budget cycle will last until 2028.

Despite surrendering all of these British powers to the EU the Benn Bill still manages to fail in its primary objective. To extend Britain's membership of the EU until, at least, January 31st 2020 (31/1/20).

Although it requires Britain to seek an extension it also requires Britain to attach conditions to that extension. In order to protect Britain's interests. It is impossible for the EU to meet those conditions.

Take for example the issue of EU Commissioners. Particularly the President of the EU Commission.

In May 2019 elections were held for the EU Parliament. One of the new EU Parliament's first tasks would be to confirm the EU Commissioners appointed by the existing EU Council.

The EU attempted to add the illusion of democracy to this process. By nominating to candidates for the President of the EU Commission. So the pro-EU left nominated Frans Timmermans while the pro-EU right nominated Jan Zahradil.

These two candidates then fought something of a faux election campaign, complete with televised debates, alongside the EU Parliament election campaign. Despite the fact they no-one would get to vote them into a job they are appointed to.

However in March 2019 current EU Council President Donald Tusk decided to force Britain to stay in the EU for another six months. A move that forced Britain to participate in the elections for the EU Parliament.

In doing this Donald Tusk thought he was striking a victorious blow for supporters of the EU everywhere.

What Tusk actually did was trigger a massive backlash against his and the EU's utter contempt for democracy.

The result was a surge in support for anti-EU parties at the election for the EU Parliament. This caused the pro-EU left and pro-EU right to lose the majority they have always held in the EU Parliament.

With no majority neither the pro-EU left nor the pro-EU right were able force through their candidate for President of the EU Commission.

Instead the job ended up going to Germany's Ursula von der Leyen. Who had not only not participated in the faux election campaign but was only suggested as a candidate moments before being appointed.

The purpose of extending Britain's membership of the EU until October 31st 2019 (31/10/19) was that it would be unaffected by Ursula von der Leyen and the other EU Commissioners. Who would start work on November 1st 2019 (1/11/19). As such Britain did not participate in their selection.

If Britain is going to still be an EU member of November 1st 2019 (1/11/19) then it will have to have its say on the EU Commissioners who will govern it. Meaning that the entire process will have to be reopened.

So the letter current British Prime Minister Boris Johnson needs to send to the EU to comply with the Benn Bill is as follows;

Dear Donald.

Enclosed is a copy of the European Union (Withdrawal) (No 6) Act. This requires me to write to you requesting an extension to the Article 50 process until January 31st 2020 (31/1/20).

Therefore I am requesting an extension to the Article 50 process until that date. However January 31st 2020 (31/1/20) is the only date that an extension is being sought for. No alternative dates are being sought or will be considered.

I'm sure that I do not need to remind you that the EU Council is legally forbidden from offering or imposing an extension to the Article 50 process which has not been sought.

Alongside my obligations under the European Union (Withdrawal) (No 6) Act I also have a wider obligation to protect the rights and freedoms of the British people.

In order to meet those obligations the extension of the Article 50 process is sought only on the basis of the EU Council agreeing to fully meet the following conditions.

1. The extension beyond October 31st 2019 (31/10/19) will bind Britain to the decisions EU Commissioners who take up office on November 1st 2019 (1/11/19). Therefore the process of appointing those EU Commissioners must be re-opened. In order to allow Britain to exercise its full rights to participate. Include the right to exercise its veto.

2. Throughout the Article 50 process Britain has waived its right to participate in the EU Council for matters which do not directly relate to that process. This was done on an understanding that Britain would leave the EU on March 29th 2019 (29/3/19). Therefore would not be bound by new laws and rules passed by the EU Council.

The extension beyond October 31st 2019 (31/10/19) means that Britain is now to be bound by new laws and rules passed by the EU Council.

Therefore Britain's rights to participate in the EU Council, including its veto, must be  fully and retroactively restored.

3. The extension beyond October 31st 2019 (31/10/19) leaves Britain as a full EU member as the EU begins negotiations over its new budget cycle.

Britain must enjoy its full rights, including its veto, to participate in this process. Furthermore Britain will have to be granted the further unique right not to contribute any money at all to the new EU budget cycle.

4. Extending the Article 50 process places significant financial burdens on Britain. Including and beyond its current contributions to the existing EU budget cycle. I myself have estimated these costs to be GB£1bn per week.

Therefore Britain must immediately end all of its financial contributions to the EU.

Furthermore the EU must compensate Britain for the continued cost of extending the Article 50 process. At a figure of GB£1bn per week. Backdated to March 29th 2019 (29/3/19).

I am copying this letter to Presidents Juncker and Sassoli.

Yours sincerely,

Boris Johnson.  


16:10 on 23/10/19 (UK date).