Article 50 was never supposed to be used, says the man who wrote it

'It is like having a fire extinguisher that should never have to be used. Instead, the fire happened'

• Christopher Hooton 
• @christophhooton 
• Tuesday 26 July 2016

AFP/Getty Images

A former Italian premier has claimed that Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which, if triggered, would initiate Britain’s exit from the EU, was designed not for actual employment but as a deterrent - and he should know, he wrote the thing.

Giuliano Amato was the man behind the European Union divorce clause, which if enacted by a British prime minister would begin a two-year countdown to our formal departure from the 28-nation bloc.

"I wrote Article 50, so I know it well," he told a conference in Rome last week.should be a classic safety valve that was there, but never used. It is like having a fire extinguisher that should never have to be used. Instead, the fire happened."

Amato advised that Brussels offer no concessions to London in upcoming negotiations, as this is the only way Britain might reconsider the decision it made through referendum.

"When it comes to the economy they have to lose," he said.