The Wightman Case

Part of 2. Questions to the Counsel General – in the Senedd at 2:32 pm on 28 November 2018.

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Photo of Jeremy Miles Jeremy Miles Labour 2:32, 28 November 2018

Well, the Member is correct—the European Court of Justice heard this reference yesterday morning, in a four-hour hearing, with all 28 justices hearing the matter. It's obviously a very significant point. As it happens, the UK Government's position in that litigation is that this is a hypothetical, because they have no intention of revoking it, and counsel for the EU made the representation that the article 50 process could not be revoked without the agreement of the other 27 members.

He asks about discussions between Governments. As he will appreciate, there is a continuing discussion around the implications of all the legal developments at the moment. I would say that the UK Government would have to think very carefully before taking the step of revoking article 50. The Welsh Government's position has been, and remains, that the focus should be on the form rather than the fact of Brexit. But as we approach what is an incredibly uncertain parliamentary process, and the opportunity in this Chamber of debating and expressing a view on the negotiations and the agreement reached to date, it seems to me important to have as much clarity, and as many fixed points, in that discussion. And therefore I welcome the opportunity for this point to be clarified by the court of justice.