Gina Miller says she fought Article 50 in court because rhetoric around Brexit 'could lead to world war'

Campaigner says the court case was not about Remain or Leave but having a 'respectful debate'

Gina Miller says public debate has become so polarised people are accused of being traitors for criticising Brexit (Getty)

The woman behind the Supreme Court case that forced Theresa May to get parliamentary approval for triggering Article 50 has said she believes the rhetoric surrounding issues like Brexit could lead to “world war”.

The campaigner said she had begun her fight following the referendum because she had become concerned about the growing power of the executive over Parliament and the ugly rhetoric surrounding the decision to leave.

She told the Huffington Post: “I do not want any possibility that our children will grow up and face a world war.

“If you think about everything that’s going on around the world - the posturing from Trump, the advancements of Russia, the Far Right in the mood music across the continent - we could end up in a place where we have nationalism and tribalism. That does lead to war.

“That’s what happens in the past. That’s how wars happen. You have inward-looking countries. That was one of the basic reasons for the union. We’ve enjoyed the longest period of stability and peace. Why would we not want our children to enjoy that?”

Ms Miller, who runs investment management firm SCM Direct with her husband, highlighted the racist and sexist abuse she was subjected to during the legal battle and said her children still had to have special security arrangements at school.

She described receiving countless threats and personal abuse at her office with Facebook campaigns being launched to gang rape her and said police were still investigating a group of people who said she should be “the second Jo Cox”.

Her legal challenge led to a landmark ruling in the Supreme Court that Theresa May could not trigger the official process to start Brexit negotiations without parliamentary approval, as the government had planned.

The Brexit bill is currently undergoing scrutiny in the House of Lords, with any amendments due to be put back to the Commons before it receives royal assent.