The shortest suicide note in history
On 26 January 2017, following the Supreme Court's judgment in favour of Gina Miller, the UK government published its "Brexit Bill," which paves the way for Britain's exit from the European Union.
The Bill gives Prime Minister Theresa May the authorisation to trigger Article 50, starting the two-year negotiation period for Britain to leave the 28-nation bloc.
The Bill, called the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Act 2017, contains just two clauses. The first part states:
- "The Prime Minister may notify, under Article 50(2) of the Treaty on European Union, the United Kingdom's intention to withdraw from the EU."
The second clause adds:
- "this section has effect despite any provision made by or under the European Communities Act 1972 or any other enactment."[1]
At its second reading in the House of Lords on 13 March 2017, the Brexit Bill was described by Labour peer Lord Lea of Crondall as "The shortest suicide note in history".
Journalist John Rentoul noted that Lord Lea had tried to amend "The longest suicide note in history" in 1983, when he was the TUC's Assistant General Secretary.[2]
