133 leGal corner


upheaval. We know that following the fallout, we may have three new Party Leaders and uncertainty about the future of the UK as a whole, and for Scotland, Northern Ireland and Gibraltar, in particular, for years to come. Aside from the politics, what is the legal position?


T


The Referendum is not binding on the uK Government at law but to ignore the result would clearly be political suicide. nothing will change until the Government formally notifies the european Council of its intention to leave the eu under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty of european union. This triggers a two year period to carry out this withdrawal process, although this period could be extended but only with the unanimous consent of the remaining 27 states. The uK will then cease to be a Member of the eu after that period, even if no agreement is reached with the eu. If there is agreement then any final exit deal has to be approved by both the european Parliament and at least 72% of the other eu Leaders (excluding the uK). until eu exit, the uK will take part in eu business as normal but cannot participate in internal eu discussions or decisions about its withdrawal, rather like an embarrassing relative at a dinner party! Commentators predict that negotiations on terms for any Brexit deal could take at least 10 years. There is no way back into the eu, if Article 50 is invoked, unless with the unanimous consent of all eu Members. After exit, eu Law will still have effect in the uK if and until the uK Parliament repeals the


he Referendum result has caused unprecedented economic and political


By Simon Wilson, Commercial Property Partner, Dartmouth Office


BREXIT: The Law not the Politics. What happens next?


Commentators predict that


negotiations on terms for any


Brexit deal could take at least 10 years.


european Communities Act 1972; any secondary legislation implementing eu law and all directly applicable eu Regulations. Thus, much of the eu employment law adopted by the uK will remain, such as minimum holiday allowances, parental leave; rights on transfer of businesses; and much of the adopted Working Time Directive and free movement and working rights. no doubt a political decision will need to be made as to those 3 million eu nationals living, studying or working in the uK and indeed the 2 million or so uK nationals currently living, working or studying in the rest of the eu. However, the uK concessions agreed with the eu by David Cameron, before the Leave Referendum, will not now come into effect. The uK will still have to continue to pay into the eu Budget until exit and, most likely, afterwards if the uK became a Member of the european economic Area (eeA) like norway. Furthermore, notwithstanding the immigration concerns said to be at the forefront of those who voted to leave, the present immigration


controls from France to the uK could be relaxed, even if the uK did not leave the eu. The Le Touquet Treaty is not an eu Treaty but a bilateral agreement between France and the uK, which France could break unilaterally even if the uK did not leave the eu and, indeed, the Mayor of Calais is keen to do so. so, aside from the politics and personalities in the years ahead, the law and legal processes remain unchanged whilst we await the outcome of what may be lengthy Brexit negotiations with the eu and extensive new legislation in the uK Parliament.


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