Does the UK parliament need to pass secondary legislation to accept the Article 50 extensionWhat are the UK's “constitutional requirements” for Article 50 notification of withdrawal from EU?When the UK parliament passed the 2016 EU referendum, did MPs support a 50% threshold?What is the significance of holding a vote before UK Parliament to invoke Article 50 in comparison to Royal Prerogative?How can European Union influence political decisions in a member country?On what basis is Theresa May triggering Article 50 (Brexit) if the Supreme Court said she couldn't?Is there a date (before 29 Mar 2019) when a hard Brexit is inevitable?“The Treaties” in article 50 of the Lisbon TreatyWhat's the point in holding a second Brexit referendum?Top-level understanding of the Brexit processWhy are the 2019 elections an objection to extending Article 50?

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Does the UK parliament need to pass secondary legislation to accept the Article 50 extension


What are the UK's “constitutional requirements” for Article 50 notification of withdrawal from EU?When the UK parliament passed the 2016 EU referendum, did MPs support a 50% threshold?What is the significance of holding a vote before UK Parliament to invoke Article 50 in comparison to Royal Prerogative?How can European Union influence political decisions in a member country?On what basis is Theresa May triggering Article 50 (Brexit) if the Supreme Court said she couldn't?Is there a date (before 29 Mar 2019) when a hard Brexit is inevitable?“The Treaties” in article 50 of the Lisbon TreatyWhat's the point in holding a second Brexit referendum?Top-level understanding of the Brexit processWhy are the 2019 elections an objection to extending Article 50?













9















Given the following



The Miller Case established the need for Primary legislation to be passed within parliament to trigger the Article 50 notification. Which it did in the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.



It stands to reason that parliament would need to pass secondary legislation to change the exit date.



My thought on this was that, it would need to for the same reasons the Supreme court decided that legislation was need in the first place.



However further reading has suggested that this is not required because the change was made using the mechanisms of Article 50, which is part of the EU treaty which will (ironically) take precedent due to the provisions of the European Communities Act 1972



This seems wrong though because in effect the EU could have offered a date that was unacceptable to the UK, without the UK being able to reject it. The UK has to as I see it, accept the date(s) offered and the Miller case established that this has to be done with legislation.



So it short, is legislation required to change the "exit date", or does the treaty/1972 act not require it?










share|improve this question









New contributor




Drifter104 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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  • 1





    Theresa May has accepted it. She (presumably) would not have accepted a date ten years into the future.

    – chirlu
    2 days ago






  • 1





    @chirlu 10 years may be an extreme example. The issue is, does she need to accept it (treaty v uk law) can she accept (milller case). I've made an edit

    – Drifter104
    2 days ago







  • 2





    Technically Theresa May offered date(s), and the EU (conditionally) accepted them.

    – Caleth
    2 days ago















9















Given the following



The Miller Case established the need for Primary legislation to be passed within parliament to trigger the Article 50 notification. Which it did in the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.



It stands to reason that parliament would need to pass secondary legislation to change the exit date.



My thought on this was that, it would need to for the same reasons the Supreme court decided that legislation was need in the first place.



However further reading has suggested that this is not required because the change was made using the mechanisms of Article 50, which is part of the EU treaty which will (ironically) take precedent due to the provisions of the European Communities Act 1972



This seems wrong though because in effect the EU could have offered a date that was unacceptable to the UK, without the UK being able to reject it. The UK has to as I see it, accept the date(s) offered and the Miller case established that this has to be done with legislation.



So it short, is legislation required to change the "exit date", or does the treaty/1972 act not require it?










share|improve this question









New contributor




Drifter104 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.















  • 1





    Theresa May has accepted it. She (presumably) would not have accepted a date ten years into the future.

    – chirlu
    2 days ago






  • 1





    @chirlu 10 years may be an extreme example. The issue is, does she need to accept it (treaty v uk law) can she accept (milller case). I've made an edit

    – Drifter104
    2 days ago







  • 2





    Technically Theresa May offered date(s), and the EU (conditionally) accepted them.

    – Caleth
    2 days ago













9












9








9








Given the following



The Miller Case established the need for Primary legislation to be passed within parliament to trigger the Article 50 notification. Which it did in the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.



It stands to reason that parliament would need to pass secondary legislation to change the exit date.



My thought on this was that, it would need to for the same reasons the Supreme court decided that legislation was need in the first place.



However further reading has suggested that this is not required because the change was made using the mechanisms of Article 50, which is part of the EU treaty which will (ironically) take precedent due to the provisions of the European Communities Act 1972



This seems wrong though because in effect the EU could have offered a date that was unacceptable to the UK, without the UK being able to reject it. The UK has to as I see it, accept the date(s) offered and the Miller case established that this has to be done with legislation.



So it short, is legislation required to change the "exit date", or does the treaty/1972 act not require it?










share|improve this question









New contributor




Drifter104 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.












Given the following



The Miller Case established the need for Primary legislation to be passed within parliament to trigger the Article 50 notification. Which it did in the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.



It stands to reason that parliament would need to pass secondary legislation to change the exit date.



My thought on this was that, it would need to for the same reasons the Supreme court decided that legislation was need in the first place.



However further reading has suggested that this is not required because the change was made using the mechanisms of Article 50, which is part of the EU treaty which will (ironically) take precedent due to the provisions of the European Communities Act 1972



This seems wrong though because in effect the EU could have offered a date that was unacceptable to the UK, without the UK being able to reject it. The UK has to as I see it, accept the date(s) offered and the Miller case established that this has to be done with legislation.



So it short, is legislation required to change the "exit date", or does the treaty/1972 act not require it?







united-kingdom european-union brexit legislation






share|improve this question









New contributor




Drifter104 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|improve this question









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Drifter104 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 2 days ago







Drifter104













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asked 2 days ago









Drifter104Drifter104

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Drifter104 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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Check out our Code of Conduct.







  • 1





    Theresa May has accepted it. She (presumably) would not have accepted a date ten years into the future.

    – chirlu
    2 days ago






  • 1





    @chirlu 10 years may be an extreme example. The issue is, does she need to accept it (treaty v uk law) can she accept (milller case). I've made an edit

    – Drifter104
    2 days ago







  • 2





    Technically Theresa May offered date(s), and the EU (conditionally) accepted them.

    – Caleth
    2 days ago












  • 1





    Theresa May has accepted it. She (presumably) would not have accepted a date ten years into the future.

    – chirlu
    2 days ago






  • 1





    @chirlu 10 years may be an extreme example. The issue is, does she need to accept it (treaty v uk law) can she accept (milller case). I've made an edit

    – Drifter104
    2 days ago







  • 2





    Technically Theresa May offered date(s), and the EU (conditionally) accepted them.

    – Caleth
    2 days ago







1




1





Theresa May has accepted it. She (presumably) would not have accepted a date ten years into the future.

– chirlu
2 days ago





Theresa May has accepted it. She (presumably) would not have accepted a date ten years into the future.

– chirlu
2 days ago




1




1





@chirlu 10 years may be an extreme example. The issue is, does she need to accept it (treaty v uk law) can she accept (milller case). I've made an edit

– Drifter104
2 days ago






@chirlu 10 years may be an extreme example. The issue is, does she need to accept it (treaty v uk law) can she accept (milller case). I've made an edit

– Drifter104
2 days ago





2




2





Technically Theresa May offered date(s), and the EU (conditionally) accepted them.

– Caleth
2 days ago





Technically Theresa May offered date(s), and the EU (conditionally) accepted them.

– Caleth
2 days ago










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















4














To address certain points in the question:




further reading has suggested that [secondary legislation] is not required because the change was made using the mechanisms of Article 50, which is part of the EU treaty which will (ironically) take [precedence]




This isn't true. For the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 to be effective, it's necessary for the exit date specified in the Act to match the date agreed by the EU and UK, and that can only be done by secondary legislation, as specified in the Act. From section 20(3):




Subsection (4) applies if the day or time on or at which the Treaties are to cease to apply to the United Kingdom in accordance with Article 50(3) of the Treaty on European Union is different from that specified in the definition of “exit day” in subsection (1).




Section 20(4) grants the government the power to ensure that this is the case:




A Minister of the Crown may by regulations—



(a) amend the definition of “exit day” in subsection (1) to ensure that the day and time specified in the definition are the day and time that the Treaties are to cease to apply to the United Kingdom, and



(b) amend subsection (2) in consequence of any such amendment.




Schedule 7, Part 2, section 14 then specifies that parliamentary approval is required to do this:




A statutory instrument containing regulations under section 20(4) may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.




Returning to the question:




This seems wrong though because in effect the EU could have offered a date that was unacceptable to the UK, without the UK being able to reject it.




That's not true. Any extension requires an agreement between the UK and EU. To quote from Section 3 of article 50 of the Treaty on European Union:




The Treaties shall cease to apply to the State in question from the date of entry into force of the withdrawal agreement or, failing that, two years after the notification referred to in paragraph 2, unless the European Council, in agreement with the Member State concerned, unanimously decides to extend this period.




Hence if the EU offers a date that the UK finds unacceptable, the UK is free to reject it, and so leave the EU on exit day.



Note that changing the exit date in the Act is entirely dependent on a new date first being agreed by the UK and EU. It is a bookkeeping exercise, not an opportunity for Parliament to reject the agreement. Having said that, it is unclear what would happen if Parliament were to reject this change.



TL;DR: Any new exit day must be agreed by the UK and EU. The date specified in the Act must match this, and the Act grants the government the power to ensure this is the case, subject to approval by Parliament.






share|improve this answer

























  • The other answer has more votes but this answers the question in a more detailed way. So I'm going to accept this one

    – Drifter104
    yesterday


















16














The relevant legislation is actually to be found in the Withdrawal Act itself, which in section 20 includes a paragraph




(4)A Minister of the Crown may by regulations—




(a) amend the definition of “exit day” in subsection (1) to ensure that the day and time specified in the definition are the day and time that the Treaties are to cease to apply to the United Kingdom, and



(b) amend subsection (2) in consequence of any such amendment.





The relevant parts of subsection (1) and (2) define the exit day and exit time as 11pm on March 29th 2019.



Since statute already gives Ministers the power to vary the date via a "statutory instrument" (i.e. by writing a letter to parliament proclaiming the new date) no further positive vote is needed. In principle a motion to reject the SI could pass within 40 sitting days under the so called "negative procedure", but given that the Commons has already voted against the idea of a no-deal exit, this is unlikely to happen.






share|improve this answer

























  • That's the UK Withdrawal Act, not the (or an) agreement.

    – JJJ
    2 days ago











  • @JJJ thanks, Along with a possible withdrawal agreement bill, there are too many pieces of paper with virtually the same name.

    – origimbo
    2 days ago












  • I assume the Withdrawal Agreement Bill didn't make it. Perhaps some other bills regarding no-deal preparations did make it?

    – JJJ
    2 days ago






  • 3





    The last paragraph is wrong: it requires the affirmative procedure: Schedule 7, Part 2, section 14 of the Act: "A statutory instrument containing regulations under section 20(4) may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament."

    – Steve Melnikoff
    2 days ago







  • 1





    @Drifter104 It's needed because UK law needs to acknowledge that we are no longer part of the EU and domestic law needs to keep in step. If we left the EU without repealing the 1972 Act, or repealed the Act while still being bound by the Treaties, then swathes of UK law would be at best ambiguous and at worst non-existent.

    – Andrew Leach
    yesterday


















6














International law has nothing to do with it. Miller was about British constitutional law. It upheld that the executive did not have the power to unilaterally change domestic law, and in particular to remove rights established in domestic law. The outcome was that Parliament legislated to allow May to begin the Article 50 process. But that Act didn't fix a timetable, and accepting the extension to the negotiation time doesn't materially affect the status quo.



As to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act, which did mention a date, 20.(4) states that




A Minister of the Crown may by regulations—

(a) amend the definition of “exit day” in subsection (1) to ensure that the day and time specified in the definition are the day and time that the Treaties are to cease to apply to the United Kingdom, and

(b) amend subsection (2) in consequence of any such amendment.




so no Parliamentary approval is required.






share|improve this answer























  • I know the Miller case was about British law and you are right. It upheld that the executive did not have the power to unilaterally change domestic law. However, by changing the date (which is in domestic law) what is the difference? Rights are fundamentally different, after the 29th March

    – Drifter104
    2 days ago






  • 3





    Changing the date isn't unilaterally changing domestic law, as evidenced by the direct quote from primary legislation. It's employing a power explicitly delegated by Parliament.

    – Peter Taylor
    2 days ago











  • ah ok, so basically parliament agreed that certain parts of the withdrawal act could be changed, this being one of them.

    – Drifter104
    2 days ago






  • 2





    The last sentence is wrong; see my comment on the other answer.

    – Steve Melnikoff
    2 days ago










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3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes








3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









4














To address certain points in the question:




further reading has suggested that [secondary legislation] is not required because the change was made using the mechanisms of Article 50, which is part of the EU treaty which will (ironically) take [precedence]




This isn't true. For the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 to be effective, it's necessary for the exit date specified in the Act to match the date agreed by the EU and UK, and that can only be done by secondary legislation, as specified in the Act. From section 20(3):




Subsection (4) applies if the day or time on or at which the Treaties are to cease to apply to the United Kingdom in accordance with Article 50(3) of the Treaty on European Union is different from that specified in the definition of “exit day” in subsection (1).




Section 20(4) grants the government the power to ensure that this is the case:




A Minister of the Crown may by regulations—



(a) amend the definition of “exit day” in subsection (1) to ensure that the day and time specified in the definition are the day and time that the Treaties are to cease to apply to the United Kingdom, and



(b) amend subsection (2) in consequence of any such amendment.




Schedule 7, Part 2, section 14 then specifies that parliamentary approval is required to do this:




A statutory instrument containing regulations under section 20(4) may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.




Returning to the question:




This seems wrong though because in effect the EU could have offered a date that was unacceptable to the UK, without the UK being able to reject it.




That's not true. Any extension requires an agreement between the UK and EU. To quote from Section 3 of article 50 of the Treaty on European Union:




The Treaties shall cease to apply to the State in question from the date of entry into force of the withdrawal agreement or, failing that, two years after the notification referred to in paragraph 2, unless the European Council, in agreement with the Member State concerned, unanimously decides to extend this period.




Hence if the EU offers a date that the UK finds unacceptable, the UK is free to reject it, and so leave the EU on exit day.



Note that changing the exit date in the Act is entirely dependent on a new date first being agreed by the UK and EU. It is a bookkeeping exercise, not an opportunity for Parliament to reject the agreement. Having said that, it is unclear what would happen if Parliament were to reject this change.



TL;DR: Any new exit day must be agreed by the UK and EU. The date specified in the Act must match this, and the Act grants the government the power to ensure this is the case, subject to approval by Parliament.






share|improve this answer

























  • The other answer has more votes but this answers the question in a more detailed way. So I'm going to accept this one

    – Drifter104
    yesterday















4














To address certain points in the question:




further reading has suggested that [secondary legislation] is not required because the change was made using the mechanisms of Article 50, which is part of the EU treaty which will (ironically) take [precedence]




This isn't true. For the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 to be effective, it's necessary for the exit date specified in the Act to match the date agreed by the EU and UK, and that can only be done by secondary legislation, as specified in the Act. From section 20(3):




Subsection (4) applies if the day or time on or at which the Treaties are to cease to apply to the United Kingdom in accordance with Article 50(3) of the Treaty on European Union is different from that specified in the definition of “exit day” in subsection (1).




Section 20(4) grants the government the power to ensure that this is the case:




A Minister of the Crown may by regulations—



(a) amend the definition of “exit day” in subsection (1) to ensure that the day and time specified in the definition are the day and time that the Treaties are to cease to apply to the United Kingdom, and



(b) amend subsection (2) in consequence of any such amendment.




Schedule 7, Part 2, section 14 then specifies that parliamentary approval is required to do this:




A statutory instrument containing regulations under section 20(4) may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.




Returning to the question:




This seems wrong though because in effect the EU could have offered a date that was unacceptable to the UK, without the UK being able to reject it.




That's not true. Any extension requires an agreement between the UK and EU. To quote from Section 3 of article 50 of the Treaty on European Union:




The Treaties shall cease to apply to the State in question from the date of entry into force of the withdrawal agreement or, failing that, two years after the notification referred to in paragraph 2, unless the European Council, in agreement with the Member State concerned, unanimously decides to extend this period.




Hence if the EU offers a date that the UK finds unacceptable, the UK is free to reject it, and so leave the EU on exit day.



Note that changing the exit date in the Act is entirely dependent on a new date first being agreed by the UK and EU. It is a bookkeeping exercise, not an opportunity for Parliament to reject the agreement. Having said that, it is unclear what would happen if Parliament were to reject this change.



TL;DR: Any new exit day must be agreed by the UK and EU. The date specified in the Act must match this, and the Act grants the government the power to ensure this is the case, subject to approval by Parliament.






share|improve this answer

























  • The other answer has more votes but this answers the question in a more detailed way. So I'm going to accept this one

    – Drifter104
    yesterday













4












4








4







To address certain points in the question:




further reading has suggested that [secondary legislation] is not required because the change was made using the mechanisms of Article 50, which is part of the EU treaty which will (ironically) take [precedence]




This isn't true. For the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 to be effective, it's necessary for the exit date specified in the Act to match the date agreed by the EU and UK, and that can only be done by secondary legislation, as specified in the Act. From section 20(3):




Subsection (4) applies if the day or time on or at which the Treaties are to cease to apply to the United Kingdom in accordance with Article 50(3) of the Treaty on European Union is different from that specified in the definition of “exit day” in subsection (1).




Section 20(4) grants the government the power to ensure that this is the case:




A Minister of the Crown may by regulations—



(a) amend the definition of “exit day” in subsection (1) to ensure that the day and time specified in the definition are the day and time that the Treaties are to cease to apply to the United Kingdom, and



(b) amend subsection (2) in consequence of any such amendment.




Schedule 7, Part 2, section 14 then specifies that parliamentary approval is required to do this:




A statutory instrument containing regulations under section 20(4) may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.




Returning to the question:




This seems wrong though because in effect the EU could have offered a date that was unacceptable to the UK, without the UK being able to reject it.




That's not true. Any extension requires an agreement between the UK and EU. To quote from Section 3 of article 50 of the Treaty on European Union:




The Treaties shall cease to apply to the State in question from the date of entry into force of the withdrawal agreement or, failing that, two years after the notification referred to in paragraph 2, unless the European Council, in agreement with the Member State concerned, unanimously decides to extend this period.




Hence if the EU offers a date that the UK finds unacceptable, the UK is free to reject it, and so leave the EU on exit day.



Note that changing the exit date in the Act is entirely dependent on a new date first being agreed by the UK and EU. It is a bookkeeping exercise, not an opportunity for Parliament to reject the agreement. Having said that, it is unclear what would happen if Parliament were to reject this change.



TL;DR: Any new exit day must be agreed by the UK and EU. The date specified in the Act must match this, and the Act grants the government the power to ensure this is the case, subject to approval by Parliament.






share|improve this answer















To address certain points in the question:




further reading has suggested that [secondary legislation] is not required because the change was made using the mechanisms of Article 50, which is part of the EU treaty which will (ironically) take [precedence]




This isn't true. For the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 to be effective, it's necessary for the exit date specified in the Act to match the date agreed by the EU and UK, and that can only be done by secondary legislation, as specified in the Act. From section 20(3):




Subsection (4) applies if the day or time on or at which the Treaties are to cease to apply to the United Kingdom in accordance with Article 50(3) of the Treaty on European Union is different from that specified in the definition of “exit day” in subsection (1).




Section 20(4) grants the government the power to ensure that this is the case:




A Minister of the Crown may by regulations—



(a) amend the definition of “exit day” in subsection (1) to ensure that the day and time specified in the definition are the day and time that the Treaties are to cease to apply to the United Kingdom, and



(b) amend subsection (2) in consequence of any such amendment.




Schedule 7, Part 2, section 14 then specifies that parliamentary approval is required to do this:




A statutory instrument containing regulations under section 20(4) may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.




Returning to the question:




This seems wrong though because in effect the EU could have offered a date that was unacceptable to the UK, without the UK being able to reject it.




That's not true. Any extension requires an agreement between the UK and EU. To quote from Section 3 of article 50 of the Treaty on European Union:




The Treaties shall cease to apply to the State in question from the date of entry into force of the withdrawal agreement or, failing that, two years after the notification referred to in paragraph 2, unless the European Council, in agreement with the Member State concerned, unanimously decides to extend this period.




Hence if the EU offers a date that the UK finds unacceptable, the UK is free to reject it, and so leave the EU on exit day.



Note that changing the exit date in the Act is entirely dependent on a new date first being agreed by the UK and EU. It is a bookkeeping exercise, not an opportunity for Parliament to reject the agreement. Having said that, it is unclear what would happen if Parliament were to reject this change.



TL;DR: Any new exit day must be agreed by the UK and EU. The date specified in the Act must match this, and the Act grants the government the power to ensure this is the case, subject to approval by Parliament.







share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited yesterday

























answered yesterday









Steve MelnikoffSteve Melnikoff

4,33711836




4,33711836












  • The other answer has more votes but this answers the question in a more detailed way. So I'm going to accept this one

    – Drifter104
    yesterday

















  • The other answer has more votes but this answers the question in a more detailed way. So I'm going to accept this one

    – Drifter104
    yesterday
















The other answer has more votes but this answers the question in a more detailed way. So I'm going to accept this one

– Drifter104
yesterday





The other answer has more votes but this answers the question in a more detailed way. So I'm going to accept this one

– Drifter104
yesterday











16














The relevant legislation is actually to be found in the Withdrawal Act itself, which in section 20 includes a paragraph




(4)A Minister of the Crown may by regulations—




(a) amend the definition of “exit day” in subsection (1) to ensure that the day and time specified in the definition are the day and time that the Treaties are to cease to apply to the United Kingdom, and



(b) amend subsection (2) in consequence of any such amendment.





The relevant parts of subsection (1) and (2) define the exit day and exit time as 11pm on March 29th 2019.



Since statute already gives Ministers the power to vary the date via a "statutory instrument" (i.e. by writing a letter to parliament proclaiming the new date) no further positive vote is needed. In principle a motion to reject the SI could pass within 40 sitting days under the so called "negative procedure", but given that the Commons has already voted against the idea of a no-deal exit, this is unlikely to happen.






share|improve this answer

























  • That's the UK Withdrawal Act, not the (or an) agreement.

    – JJJ
    2 days ago











  • @JJJ thanks, Along with a possible withdrawal agreement bill, there are too many pieces of paper with virtually the same name.

    – origimbo
    2 days ago












  • I assume the Withdrawal Agreement Bill didn't make it. Perhaps some other bills regarding no-deal preparations did make it?

    – JJJ
    2 days ago






  • 3





    The last paragraph is wrong: it requires the affirmative procedure: Schedule 7, Part 2, section 14 of the Act: "A statutory instrument containing regulations under section 20(4) may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament."

    – Steve Melnikoff
    2 days ago







  • 1





    @Drifter104 It's needed because UK law needs to acknowledge that we are no longer part of the EU and domestic law needs to keep in step. If we left the EU without repealing the 1972 Act, or repealed the Act while still being bound by the Treaties, then swathes of UK law would be at best ambiguous and at worst non-existent.

    – Andrew Leach
    yesterday















16














The relevant legislation is actually to be found in the Withdrawal Act itself, which in section 20 includes a paragraph




(4)A Minister of the Crown may by regulations—




(a) amend the definition of “exit day” in subsection (1) to ensure that the day and time specified in the definition are the day and time that the Treaties are to cease to apply to the United Kingdom, and



(b) amend subsection (2) in consequence of any such amendment.





The relevant parts of subsection (1) and (2) define the exit day and exit time as 11pm on March 29th 2019.



Since statute already gives Ministers the power to vary the date via a "statutory instrument" (i.e. by writing a letter to parliament proclaiming the new date) no further positive vote is needed. In principle a motion to reject the SI could pass within 40 sitting days under the so called "negative procedure", but given that the Commons has already voted against the idea of a no-deal exit, this is unlikely to happen.






share|improve this answer

























  • That's the UK Withdrawal Act, not the (or an) agreement.

    – JJJ
    2 days ago











  • @JJJ thanks, Along with a possible withdrawal agreement bill, there are too many pieces of paper with virtually the same name.

    – origimbo
    2 days ago












  • I assume the Withdrawal Agreement Bill didn't make it. Perhaps some other bills regarding no-deal preparations did make it?

    – JJJ
    2 days ago






  • 3





    The last paragraph is wrong: it requires the affirmative procedure: Schedule 7, Part 2, section 14 of the Act: "A statutory instrument containing regulations under section 20(4) may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament."

    – Steve Melnikoff
    2 days ago







  • 1





    @Drifter104 It's needed because UK law needs to acknowledge that we are no longer part of the EU and domestic law needs to keep in step. If we left the EU without repealing the 1972 Act, or repealed the Act while still being bound by the Treaties, then swathes of UK law would be at best ambiguous and at worst non-existent.

    – Andrew Leach
    yesterday













16












16








16







The relevant legislation is actually to be found in the Withdrawal Act itself, which in section 20 includes a paragraph




(4)A Minister of the Crown may by regulations—




(a) amend the definition of “exit day” in subsection (1) to ensure that the day and time specified in the definition are the day and time that the Treaties are to cease to apply to the United Kingdom, and



(b) amend subsection (2) in consequence of any such amendment.





The relevant parts of subsection (1) and (2) define the exit day and exit time as 11pm on March 29th 2019.



Since statute already gives Ministers the power to vary the date via a "statutory instrument" (i.e. by writing a letter to parliament proclaiming the new date) no further positive vote is needed. In principle a motion to reject the SI could pass within 40 sitting days under the so called "negative procedure", but given that the Commons has already voted against the idea of a no-deal exit, this is unlikely to happen.






share|improve this answer















The relevant legislation is actually to be found in the Withdrawal Act itself, which in section 20 includes a paragraph




(4)A Minister of the Crown may by regulations—




(a) amend the definition of “exit day” in subsection (1) to ensure that the day and time specified in the definition are the day and time that the Treaties are to cease to apply to the United Kingdom, and



(b) amend subsection (2) in consequence of any such amendment.





The relevant parts of subsection (1) and (2) define the exit day and exit time as 11pm on March 29th 2019.



Since statute already gives Ministers the power to vary the date via a "statutory instrument" (i.e. by writing a letter to parliament proclaiming the new date) no further positive vote is needed. In principle a motion to reject the SI could pass within 40 sitting days under the so called "negative procedure", but given that the Commons has already voted against the idea of a no-deal exit, this is unlikely to happen.







share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited 2 days ago

























answered 2 days ago









origimboorigimbo

12.6k23250




12.6k23250












  • That's the UK Withdrawal Act, not the (or an) agreement.

    – JJJ
    2 days ago











  • @JJJ thanks, Along with a possible withdrawal agreement bill, there are too many pieces of paper with virtually the same name.

    – origimbo
    2 days ago












  • I assume the Withdrawal Agreement Bill didn't make it. Perhaps some other bills regarding no-deal preparations did make it?

    – JJJ
    2 days ago






  • 3





    The last paragraph is wrong: it requires the affirmative procedure: Schedule 7, Part 2, section 14 of the Act: "A statutory instrument containing regulations under section 20(4) may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament."

    – Steve Melnikoff
    2 days ago







  • 1





    @Drifter104 It's needed because UK law needs to acknowledge that we are no longer part of the EU and domestic law needs to keep in step. If we left the EU without repealing the 1972 Act, or repealed the Act while still being bound by the Treaties, then swathes of UK law would be at best ambiguous and at worst non-existent.

    – Andrew Leach
    yesterday

















  • That's the UK Withdrawal Act, not the (or an) agreement.

    – JJJ
    2 days ago











  • @JJJ thanks, Along with a possible withdrawal agreement bill, there are too many pieces of paper with virtually the same name.

    – origimbo
    2 days ago












  • I assume the Withdrawal Agreement Bill didn't make it. Perhaps some other bills regarding no-deal preparations did make it?

    – JJJ
    2 days ago






  • 3





    The last paragraph is wrong: it requires the affirmative procedure: Schedule 7, Part 2, section 14 of the Act: "A statutory instrument containing regulations under section 20(4) may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament."

    – Steve Melnikoff
    2 days ago







  • 1





    @Drifter104 It's needed because UK law needs to acknowledge that we are no longer part of the EU and domestic law needs to keep in step. If we left the EU without repealing the 1972 Act, or repealed the Act while still being bound by the Treaties, then swathes of UK law would be at best ambiguous and at worst non-existent.

    – Andrew Leach
    yesterday
















That's the UK Withdrawal Act, not the (or an) agreement.

– JJJ
2 days ago





That's the UK Withdrawal Act, not the (or an) agreement.

– JJJ
2 days ago













@JJJ thanks, Along with a possible withdrawal agreement bill, there are too many pieces of paper with virtually the same name.

– origimbo
2 days ago






@JJJ thanks, Along with a possible withdrawal agreement bill, there are too many pieces of paper with virtually the same name.

– origimbo
2 days ago














I assume the Withdrawal Agreement Bill didn't make it. Perhaps some other bills regarding no-deal preparations did make it?

– JJJ
2 days ago





I assume the Withdrawal Agreement Bill didn't make it. Perhaps some other bills regarding no-deal preparations did make it?

– JJJ
2 days ago




3




3





The last paragraph is wrong: it requires the affirmative procedure: Schedule 7, Part 2, section 14 of the Act: "A statutory instrument containing regulations under section 20(4) may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament."

– Steve Melnikoff
2 days ago






The last paragraph is wrong: it requires the affirmative procedure: Schedule 7, Part 2, section 14 of the Act: "A statutory instrument containing regulations under section 20(4) may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament."

– Steve Melnikoff
2 days ago





1




1





@Drifter104 It's needed because UK law needs to acknowledge that we are no longer part of the EU and domestic law needs to keep in step. If we left the EU without repealing the 1972 Act, or repealed the Act while still being bound by the Treaties, then swathes of UK law would be at best ambiguous and at worst non-existent.

– Andrew Leach
yesterday





@Drifter104 It's needed because UK law needs to acknowledge that we are no longer part of the EU and domestic law needs to keep in step. If we left the EU without repealing the 1972 Act, or repealed the Act while still being bound by the Treaties, then swathes of UK law would be at best ambiguous and at worst non-existent.

– Andrew Leach
yesterday











6














International law has nothing to do with it. Miller was about British constitutional law. It upheld that the executive did not have the power to unilaterally change domestic law, and in particular to remove rights established in domestic law. The outcome was that Parliament legislated to allow May to begin the Article 50 process. But that Act didn't fix a timetable, and accepting the extension to the negotiation time doesn't materially affect the status quo.



As to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act, which did mention a date, 20.(4) states that




A Minister of the Crown may by regulations—

(a) amend the definition of “exit day” in subsection (1) to ensure that the day and time specified in the definition are the day and time that the Treaties are to cease to apply to the United Kingdom, and

(b) amend subsection (2) in consequence of any such amendment.




so no Parliamentary approval is required.






share|improve this answer























  • I know the Miller case was about British law and you are right. It upheld that the executive did not have the power to unilaterally change domestic law. However, by changing the date (which is in domestic law) what is the difference? Rights are fundamentally different, after the 29th March

    – Drifter104
    2 days ago






  • 3





    Changing the date isn't unilaterally changing domestic law, as evidenced by the direct quote from primary legislation. It's employing a power explicitly delegated by Parliament.

    – Peter Taylor
    2 days ago











  • ah ok, so basically parliament agreed that certain parts of the withdrawal act could be changed, this being one of them.

    – Drifter104
    2 days ago






  • 2





    The last sentence is wrong; see my comment on the other answer.

    – Steve Melnikoff
    2 days ago















6














International law has nothing to do with it. Miller was about British constitutional law. It upheld that the executive did not have the power to unilaterally change domestic law, and in particular to remove rights established in domestic law. The outcome was that Parliament legislated to allow May to begin the Article 50 process. But that Act didn't fix a timetable, and accepting the extension to the negotiation time doesn't materially affect the status quo.



As to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act, which did mention a date, 20.(4) states that




A Minister of the Crown may by regulations—

(a) amend the definition of “exit day” in subsection (1) to ensure that the day and time specified in the definition are the day and time that the Treaties are to cease to apply to the United Kingdom, and

(b) amend subsection (2) in consequence of any such amendment.




so no Parliamentary approval is required.






share|improve this answer























  • I know the Miller case was about British law and you are right. It upheld that the executive did not have the power to unilaterally change domestic law. However, by changing the date (which is in domestic law) what is the difference? Rights are fundamentally different, after the 29th March

    – Drifter104
    2 days ago






  • 3





    Changing the date isn't unilaterally changing domestic law, as evidenced by the direct quote from primary legislation. It's employing a power explicitly delegated by Parliament.

    – Peter Taylor
    2 days ago











  • ah ok, so basically parliament agreed that certain parts of the withdrawal act could be changed, this being one of them.

    – Drifter104
    2 days ago






  • 2





    The last sentence is wrong; see my comment on the other answer.

    – Steve Melnikoff
    2 days ago













6












6








6







International law has nothing to do with it. Miller was about British constitutional law. It upheld that the executive did not have the power to unilaterally change domestic law, and in particular to remove rights established in domestic law. The outcome was that Parliament legislated to allow May to begin the Article 50 process. But that Act didn't fix a timetable, and accepting the extension to the negotiation time doesn't materially affect the status quo.



As to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act, which did mention a date, 20.(4) states that




A Minister of the Crown may by regulations—

(a) amend the definition of “exit day” in subsection (1) to ensure that the day and time specified in the definition are the day and time that the Treaties are to cease to apply to the United Kingdom, and

(b) amend subsection (2) in consequence of any such amendment.




so no Parliamentary approval is required.






share|improve this answer













International law has nothing to do with it. Miller was about British constitutional law. It upheld that the executive did not have the power to unilaterally change domestic law, and in particular to remove rights established in domestic law. The outcome was that Parliament legislated to allow May to begin the Article 50 process. But that Act didn't fix a timetable, and accepting the extension to the negotiation time doesn't materially affect the status quo.



As to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act, which did mention a date, 20.(4) states that




A Minister of the Crown may by regulations—

(a) amend the definition of “exit day” in subsection (1) to ensure that the day and time specified in the definition are the day and time that the Treaties are to cease to apply to the United Kingdom, and

(b) amend subsection (2) in consequence of any such amendment.




so no Parliamentary approval is required.







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered 2 days ago









Peter TaylorPeter Taylor

2,383716




2,383716












  • I know the Miller case was about British law and you are right. It upheld that the executive did not have the power to unilaterally change domestic law. However, by changing the date (which is in domestic law) what is the difference? Rights are fundamentally different, after the 29th March

    – Drifter104
    2 days ago






  • 3





    Changing the date isn't unilaterally changing domestic law, as evidenced by the direct quote from primary legislation. It's employing a power explicitly delegated by Parliament.

    – Peter Taylor
    2 days ago











  • ah ok, so basically parliament agreed that certain parts of the withdrawal act could be changed, this being one of them.

    – Drifter104
    2 days ago






  • 2





    The last sentence is wrong; see my comment on the other answer.

    – Steve Melnikoff
    2 days ago

















  • I know the Miller case was about British law and you are right. It upheld that the executive did not have the power to unilaterally change domestic law. However, by changing the date (which is in domestic law) what is the difference? Rights are fundamentally different, after the 29th March

    – Drifter104
    2 days ago






  • 3





    Changing the date isn't unilaterally changing domestic law, as evidenced by the direct quote from primary legislation. It's employing a power explicitly delegated by Parliament.

    – Peter Taylor
    2 days ago











  • ah ok, so basically parliament agreed that certain parts of the withdrawal act could be changed, this being one of them.

    – Drifter104
    2 days ago






  • 2





    The last sentence is wrong; see my comment on the other answer.

    – Steve Melnikoff
    2 days ago
















I know the Miller case was about British law and you are right. It upheld that the executive did not have the power to unilaterally change domestic law. However, by changing the date (which is in domestic law) what is the difference? Rights are fundamentally different, after the 29th March

– Drifter104
2 days ago





I know the Miller case was about British law and you are right. It upheld that the executive did not have the power to unilaterally change domestic law. However, by changing the date (which is in domestic law) what is the difference? Rights are fundamentally different, after the 29th March

– Drifter104
2 days ago




3




3





Changing the date isn't unilaterally changing domestic law, as evidenced by the direct quote from primary legislation. It's employing a power explicitly delegated by Parliament.

– Peter Taylor
2 days ago





Changing the date isn't unilaterally changing domestic law, as evidenced by the direct quote from primary legislation. It's employing a power explicitly delegated by Parliament.

– Peter Taylor
2 days ago













ah ok, so basically parliament agreed that certain parts of the withdrawal act could be changed, this being one of them.

– Drifter104
2 days ago





ah ok, so basically parliament agreed that certain parts of the withdrawal act could be changed, this being one of them.

– Drifter104
2 days ago




2




2





The last sentence is wrong; see my comment on the other answer.

– Steve Melnikoff
2 days ago





The last sentence is wrong; see my comment on the other answer.

– Steve Melnikoff
2 days ago










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