The author of Article 50 has called for Brexit to be halted as its "disastrous consequences" become clear.

Lord Kerr said politics was being "undermined" as the countdown continues to Britain's predicted departure from the EU in April 2019.

He urged for a "UK-wide debate about calling a halt to the process" and said it was possible for voters to "think again" about whether they wanted to leave.

The crossbench peer was one of more than 60 prominent Scots who wrote an open letter urging for politicians to consider a re-think.

Former NATO secretary general Lord Robertson, Scotland's former first minister Henry McLeish and Liberal Democrat ex-leader Lord Campbell were among the co-signatories.


They wrote: "We see our society, economy and politics becoming ever more undermined due to the impact of Brexit.

"We recognise that a narrow majority voted to leave the European Union, but the disastrous consequences are now becoming ever clearer - every day.

Image: It's not too late to retract Article 50, the man who wrote it says

"Even before the UK has left the EU, we face falling living standards, rising inflation, slowing growth and lower productivity.

"Our international reputation has been seriously damaged, leaving the UK weak, with diminished influence, in an increasingly uncertain and unstable world."

:: Britain's Article 50 letter

They continued: "In a democracy, it is always possible to think again and to choose a different direction. We need to think again about Brexit, to have a UK-wide debate about calling a halt to the process and changing our minds.

"We call for a national debate on Brexit. We ask our fellow citizens, and our politicians, to think again. It is time to call a halt to Brexit."

Lord Kerr was asked to help draft an EU constitution in the early 2000s, his clause setting out the terms for a country's departure making it into the later-adopted Lisbon Treaty.

January - Lord Kerr: Exit from the EU will be 'amicable'

He has previously told Sky News Theresa May could withdraw the Article 50 notice she triggered in March this year.

Lord Kerr said: "Legally it would be perfectly possible to take it back.

"Politically of course, our partners might not be too thrilled if they'd wasted 18 months, 20 months negotiating with us, but I suspect it would be possible to get political agreement where you carry on as before.

"That looks at present an extremely unlikely contingency, but it is there as a possibility."