Brexit legal challenge live: MPs don't actually want to vote on Article 50, government lawyer claims
The appeal against MPs voting on Article 50 is now in its second day
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Your support makes all the difference.Here are the latest updates:
- Theresa May performs U-turn and now will reveal Brexit plans before Article 50 vote
- Government rejected an opportunity to make EU referendum legally binding, lawyer claims
- MPs don't actually want to vote on Article 50, government lawyer claims
- Judges accuse the Government's lawyer of contradicting himself "twice in five minutes"
- Amber Rudd reveals EU citizens living in Britain will need identity cards after Brexit
- EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier says Brexit deal could be reached by October 2018
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The Supreme Court is today hearing the second day of arguments in the Brexit legal challenge.
11 of the most senior judges in the UK are hearing the government's appeal to a High Court ruling that Theresa May must let MPs vote on whether to trigger Article 50.
Yesterday, the court heard from government lawyer James Eadie QC and Attorney General Jeremy Wright. The lawyers argued the Prime Minister has authority to trigger the mechanism and begin EU withdrawal processes.
However, the judges questioned why more details haven't been provided about what will be in the Great Repeal Bill, the legislation through which the government intends to legislate for life outside the EU.
The judges also said serious threats have been made to claimants in the case and warned they must be stopped.
The case is expected to last four days in total, ending on Thursday.
So it's worth keeping an eye on this aspect. This wasn't considered by High Court in initial ruling against govt- so still a real prospect
A real shame there was not more time.The devolution issues are very fundamental & possibly determinative of this ap… twitter.com/i/web/status/8…
Ronan Lavery QC now on his feet representing Raymond McCord, whose son was murdered by loyalist paramilitaries
McCord is a well respected advocate for victims of the Troubles and their families in Northern Ireland
Lavery QC says triggering Article 50 without approval from Northern Ireland would be unconstitutional
"My client is a Protestant from North Belfast. He is a victim of the Troubles. He is here in court with his friend who is Catholic"
"It is a complex situation in Northern Ireland, my lords and my lady"
Brexit changes the "principle of consent" in Northern Ireland's constitutional status
"It would be unthinkable" that parts of the Northern Ireland Act could be repealed- Lavery QC
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