Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Gina Miller has slammed the Government for playing X Factor politics with the critical Brexit legal challenge going through the Supreme Court.
Ms Miller, the philanthropist who brought the case, said a news report about how the Government was predicting a less-impressive-than-expected win for her side showed ministers were treating the crucial decision with as much seriousness as if it were being taken by judges on the Saturday night TV show.
Speaking exclusively to The Independent, she said the news report showed Brexiteers had accepted they would lose and were now trying to put a favourable “spin” on defeat.
She said the report – which appeared in The Daily Telegraph with details of the Supreme Court judges’ backgrounds – represented a “veiled threat” against the judiciary as they determine legal points crucial to the UK’s future.
Ms Miller said: “What was really fantastic about the past week in court was how considered the coverage was. It really highlighted as we move forward on everything to do with Brexit, how things should be conducted, with the tone we have seen.
“But then what happens? This huge spin story comes up and we’ve already lost all that sobriety.
“This is not The X Factor. This is so serious. The judges are going to take their time, they are going to make a considered judgement.”
Ms Miller headed a group of campaigners who took the Government to the High Court to challenge Theresa May’s claim that she could unilaterally trigger Article 50, launching the Brexit process without a vote in Parliament.
After she won the case, forcing Ms May to give MPs a vote, the Government appealed to the Supreme Court where 11 judges took evidence this week. They are expected to give a verdict next month.
But with deliberations ongoing, a Daily Telegraph report quoted an anonymous government source suggesting the Supreme Court’s decision will be much closer than previously thought.
While the anonymous source conceded Ms Miller may win – meaning the Prime Minister must bring forward legislation for MPs to vote on – the piece then argued a narrow Supreme Court victory would mean MPs have less justification to amend Ms May’s legislation.
The piece also carried a list of the Supreme Court’s judges, setting out their backgrounds and links some have with the EU.
Ms Miller said: "It’s pure spin. The message of the article is this: yes, we the Government are going to lose, but beware judges, those of you who might be on the other side, those who might have an EU connection. There’s a slight warning to them, there’s a veiled threat there, which impinges on their independence.
“The whole idea is that this is not about politics. But they have already started spinning it that way.”
She said it would be “fruitless” to speculate on the outcome of the case as there were so many nuanced issues involved.
But she added: “If they already think they are going to lose, perhaps what they should be doing is spending their time drafting the bill they need to then proceed with.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments