Now a crossbench peer, Kerr said parliament, including himself, would “not have the guts” to vote down any government bill triggering Article 50, the start point for the two-year EU negotiations. Kerr challenged those who claimed an interim deal would be easier to negotiate, saying even an interim deal would require an agreement on the long-term destination. The interim agreement covers a gap before the permanent agreement comes into force and while the ratification process takes place. “No one concedes something in an interim agreement that they would not be prepared to concede for a permanent agreement ... “The number of us in parliament who will have the guts to vote against triggering article 50 is very very small.

Source: The Guardian November 27, 2016 11:37 UTC