The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, called on the Government to withdraw Article 50 on 6 December, declaring that it is the best way to protect London and ensure the United Kingdom does not crash out of the European Union with no deal.
In a keynote speech to business leaders in Dublin, Sadiq insisted that a no-deal scenario would be the worst possible outcome for London and that the Government must take this increasingly likely outcome off the table. Withdrawing Article 50 would allow Britain to stop the clock ticking towards a no-deal Brexit while the uncertainty caused by the Government’s actions can be sorted out.
With the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal facing likely defeat in the House of Commons next week, withdrawing Article 50 would allow time for a General Election or a public vote to be held so the country can decide what course it wants to take and avoid the risk of a no-deal Brexit. Earlier this week, the Advocate General at the European Court of Justice confirmed that it is possible for the UK to withdraw Article 50 if it wishes.
The Mayor was in Dublin as part of his wider drive to protect the capital’s economy from the effects of Brexit and reiterate his message that ‘London Is Open’ to business, investment, talent, tourists and ideas.
The visit follows his trips in the last two months to Brussels, where he held talks with Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, and to Paris and Berlin.
He called for Article 50 to be withdrawn in his speech at Dublin Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Lunch. During his visit, he is also scheduled to meet the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, President Michael D Higgins and the Minister of State for European Affairs, Helen McEntee.
Sadiq has long argued that ‘no deal’ would be hugely damaging, leading to fewer jobs and reduced investment in London and the whole country. He now believes that this scenario is looking more likely by the day, with Parliament extremely likely to vote down the Prime Minister’s deal next week.
The Mayor will also highlight the special relationship that exists between London and Dublin and stress that whatever the outcome of Brexit that friendship will always exist.
The Mayor’s visit to Dublin is the latest in a series of visits to European cities to make the case that despite Brexit, London remains open to the world: open to business, open to ideas, open to investment, open to trade and open to talent.
In November, he visited Berlin and Paris where he met leading businesses and senior politicians, as part of his work to protect key trade, business and cultural ties between London and other leading European capitals.
He met senior European Union officials, including Michel Barnier, in Brussels in October.