Brexit breakfast discussion on constitutional and political issues

We were delighted to host a Brexit breakfast discussion, chaired by Nusrat Zar (Partner in our Public Law practice), on 26 September 2019 for our clients on the constitutional and political issues arising out the latest Brexit developments. This was timely as it followed the Supreme Court's judgment the previous day on the unlawful prorogation of Parliament, on which Andrew Lidbetter (Partner in our Public Law practice) advised The RT Hon Sir John Major KG CH.

We were joined by Professor Vernon Bogdanor (constitutional expert and Professor of Government at Kings College, London); Lord Daniel Finkelstein OBE (Associate Editor, The Times; and previously political adviser to Conservative Leader William Hague and Prime Minister John Major) and Paul Stephenson (Partner, Hanbury Strategy; and, amongst other things, former Director of Communications for the Vote Leave campaign).

At the end of the event, we surprised the panellists with a pop quiz on their views on the probabilities of the following events occurring in the next 4 months and set out the results:

• A general election – 85%
• Jeremy Corbyn becoming Prime Minister after a general election – 38%
• The UK leaving the EU with a deal – 27%
• The UK leaving the EU without a deal – 43%

Clearly, the risks of a no-deal Brexit remain high with just 4 weeks to go until exit day (31 October 2019). Our updated Brexit Legal Guide covers the impact to businesses across several sectors in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

If you would like to discuss specific arrangements for support through the risk of a no-deal exit or on dispute risks that may arise, or on any other questions or challenges you have, please do contact your regular Herbert Smith Freehills relationship contacts, or any of the experts listed here.