Why are the Liberal Democrats now calling for Article 50 to be revoked?

Jo Swinson will use her first conference to put to activists a major shift in policy, writes Ashley Cowburn

Leader aims to make party’s position ‘clear and unequivocal’ (PA)

Marking a departure from the sombre atmosphere of the 2018 conference, with a leader who had all but resigned, the Liberal Democrats will meet this week on the Bournemouth seaside amid a recent resurgence – in terms of members, polling figures, and its number of MPs at Westminster.

The party’s new 39-year-old leader, Jo Swinson, will also use her first conference at the helm of the party to put to activists a major shift in policy, asking them to endorse her proposal of revoking Article 50 – cancelling Brexit – to be included in the Lib Dems’ next blueprint for government.

If the party faithful back her proposal at the Bournemouth International Centre on Sunday, the Lib Dems will then adopt a revocation stance at the next general election, which could of course be as early as next month.

Until now, the party has consistently argued for a second EU referendum and to give the British public the Final Say on Brexit.

While the party remains committed to a public vote on any Brexit deal, they will fight a general election taking place before a referendum on the platform of withdrawing the letter – sent by Theresa May in March 2017 – notifying Brussels of the UK’s intention to leave the bloc.

If approved, the policy will be written into the party’s next manifesto for government, and Swinson said earlier this week it will make the Lib Dems’ position “clear and unequivocal”.

The EU parliament’s Brexit chief, Guy Verhofstadt, has hailed the proposal from the Lib Dems as a “natural stance” for any party committed to stopping Brexit.

“As the European Court of Justice has determined, a decision to revoke would unilaterally end the Brexit process,” he told The Independent. “This is the only way to stop Brexit, given that Article 50 has been triggered.”

Despite enjoying a resurgence in recent months – and boosting their MP count to 17 – a “majority Liberal Democrat government” is not something anyone in Westminster is seriously considering, even with the current instability in British politics.

But the policy has been put in place to ensure the Liberal Democrats are viewed in the eyes of the public as the most unequivocally pro-EU force in British politics. Given Labour’s recent move towards a second referendum – after a prolonged journey – the Lib Dems needed to go further.

The issue of Brexit has defined the party for the last three years, and they cannot risk being outflanked by Labour if the party does adopt a more pro-Remain stance at its own party conference next weekend.