A petition calling for Article 50’s revocation has almost reached 5 million signatures
Pro-Remain MPs are discussing plans to table a vote on revoking article 50 as a petition calling for such action nears the five million signature mark – the most popular petition ever in the history of the United Kingdom.
As the likelihood of crashing out of Europe with no deal increases, with prime minister Theresa May unable to get her deal voted through the house of commons, public support for a ‘People’s Vote’ or even revoking article 50 altogether has grown significantly.
As May clings to power, now willing to accept a no-deal scenario, MPs from both sides of the benches are looking at the possibility of halting the entire Brexit process. They are expected to table an amendment close to the official leaving date, currently set to be April 12, unless parliament votes in favour of a further extension until May 22.
May has stated that she will not draw out the process beyond the end of June, but she might not even be prime minister by the end of this week, as cabinet ministers prepare to stage a coup that would oust her from no.10 and see her de facto deputy David Lidington take over in the short-term.
The European court of justice ruled last year that Britain could unilaterally revoke article 50, but not simply to buy time while they decide how to proceed.
Parliament is now obliged to discuss revoking article 50 in parliament after the unprecedented success of the petition, but MPs see the timing of tabling an amendment as crucial and will hold off until they believe it is most likely to be effective.
The creator of the petition has received death threats from angered Leave voters since the petition gained traction. Margaret Georgiadou, 77, said she had received threats on the phone and a torrent of abuse on Facebook, forcing her to deactivate her account.
IN the past 10 hours have had three death threats over the phone, my fb account has been hacked andhad a torrent of abuse on Facebook. Am closing my FB account.
— Margaret Georgiadou aka GangstaGran #FBPA #FBPPR (@madgie1941) March 23, 2019
“Hi – am the person responsible for the Revoke Art 50 petition. Just needed to tell you that 1. am currently visiting Cyprus. and 2. last night I had three telephoned death threats. (!) Who wants Brexit so much that they are prepared to kill for it?” she added.
https://twitter.com/madgie1941/status/1109362260747665408
