Article 50 letter

John Kerr, who drafted Article 50, says we don’t have to leave EU if we don’t want to. We imagine UK breaking news to EU Council president.

May made string of climb-downs in her Florence speech. It’s good she’s bowing to reality but in process she’s destroying case for Brexit.

While it’s good to see UK finally making some positive comments about our partners, one then wonders why on earth we are leaving.

The UK starts the Brexit negotiations with inflexible positions and red lines which risk being a source of weakness and lack generosity.

From “blackmail” to Gibraltar, papers seem intent on stoking anti-EU animosity while politicians on both sides talk of goodwill.

Before triggering Article 50, the PM’s red lines came from hard-Brexiters in the UK. Now the EU has begun setting its own rules.

Much needs to be agreed before Brexit talks begin in earnest, hindered by a climate in which any comment can cause unhelpful distractions.

No political bombshells have been dropped since Theresa May triggered Article 50. But a few comments are already shifting the debate.

May’s letter contained language which has been interpreted as blackmail. She should clarify she doesn’t intend to do anything so foolish.

PM didn’t repeat threats, didn’t refuse to pay what we owe and said there are consequences of quitting. But her hopes are still unrealistic.