Must have known...
The EU actually did us a huge favour. If they had not spoken up the government and candidate cities would have continued to pour money down the drain in pursuit of a unachievable goal.
The UK government must have known this...
Aren't a lot of them former lawyers / solicitors and general experts in law and civic matters....
Seriously can't have not realised and failed to inform the potential candidate cities some time ago.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
