Boris Johnson's Ace in the Hole Revealed
|The UK PM is committed to obeying a law that requires him to do something that he says he will not do. What's the catch?
The Benn Bill requires UK prime minister Boris Johnson to request a Brexit extension that Johnsosn has vowed not to do. Yet, he insists he will not break the law.
For obvious reasons, Johnson has not explained how that is possible.
Coercion
Please consider 1969 Vienna Convention: Article 51 Coercion of a Representative of State
This article deals with one of the most ancient and firmly consolidated grounds of invalidity of treaties. A treaty concluded through the coercion exerted against State representative, be it a single human being or a group thereof, is without any legal effect. Moreover, the act of coercion itself can amount to an international wrongful act.
In the video above, Jeff Taylor says the EU is not a signatory of that convention.
However, The UK is, as are some EU member states.
Johnson can submit the letter, simultaneously declaring it null and void as it by demand, against his wishes and the wishes of the UK government.
This seems ironclad to me, but once again, no one really knows how a court would rule.
Moot Point?
The entire point could be moot if the EU and UK manage top agree to a deal.
As noted on Friday, Secret Brexit Negotiations in the "Tunnel" to Begin.
If Johnson comes back with a deal, especially one in which the EU says no further extensions other than to ratify the deal or not, then the Benn Bill would be rendered ineffective without any legal dispute.
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