Lord Kerr predicts that the UK will rejoin the EU within the next 20 years

The man who wrote article 50 has claimed that the “last great benefit” the UK has brought to the European Union is that no other country will be “stupid” enough to leave.

Lord Kerr of Kinlochard drafted the text that set out the procedure for quitting the EU and which came into force in 2009. The veteran diplomat said other members would be put off following the UK’s lead as the consequences became clear. “It will ensure that no one will be as stupid as us again,” he said.

The crossbench peer predicted that negotiations on the UK’s future relationship with the bloc, which start on March 3, will swiftly become “nasty and rebarbative”, creating anger towards the EU.

“As it becomes clear that the