Commenting on today's High Court ruling that the Government does not have power under the Crown's prerogative to trigger Article 50, Rt Hon. Andrew Tyrie MP, Chairman of the Treasury Committee, said:
Government should be more transparent
"Whatever the Supreme Court decides, the Government should be much more transparent about its objectives in the negotiations, in some detail, and the sooner the better. It should also ensure that Parliament can scrutinise the objectives, and vote on them.
There are many good reasons for this. Among several, it can enable the construction of broad-based public consent for the UK's future relationship with the EU. The UK is leaving; a public debate is needed about where we want to arrive. Before taking off, it is always a good idea for the pilot to discuss with the passengers and crew where they might want to land.
Second, clarity about the Government's objectives would enable a serious discussion with other Member States to get underway, prior to the triggering of Article 50.
And third, it can reduce the economic damage caused by uncertainty over the likely shape of the UK's future relationship with the EU. It is the uncertainty about the terms of that relationship, far more than the additional time required to clarify the negotiating position, that carries the more significant cost."
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