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As it happenedended

Brexit legal challenge live: British citizens will lose rights through EU withdrawal, Supreme Court told

A third day of arguments has been made in the Brexit Supreme Court appeal

Siobhan Fenton
London
Wednesday 07 December 2016 10:22 GMT
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Brexit at the supreme court: Day Three

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Gina Miller's legal representative has outlining the case against the Government in day three of the four day Supreme Court appeal on Brexit.

Lord Pannick QC represented Ms Miller and told the court Theresa May does not have sufficient authority to trigger Article 50 and instead the case must go to MPs.

Representing fello claimant Deir Dos Santos, a hairdresser born in Brazil, QC Dominic Chambers told the court only parliament has the power to take away British citizens' rights, which EU withdrawal would inevitably do.

The court was also told both Scotland and Northern Ireland must approve triggering Article 50 before the Government does so. A majority of people in Scotland (62 per cent) and Northern Ireland (56 per cent) voted to Remain.

The day before, while the court was sitting, Ms May announced during a visit to the Gulf that she will reveal her Brexit plans before triggering Article 50, in what appears to be a signifcant U-turn on her previous position.

Catch up on everything that happened in court today:

The Prime Minister has previously said she plans to trigger Article 50 by the end of this Spring.

If MPs are entitled to vote on Article 50, it could delay Brexit considerably or ensure it is a 'soft Brexit' rather than a 'hard Brexit' as politicians could insist protectionist clauses are inserted before EU withdrawal.

The Supreme Court case is expected to last four days.

A judgment is anticipated for early in the new year.

I'll be reporting live from the Supreme Court throughout the day. You can follow all the coverage here: independent.co.uk/news/uk/politi…

Siobhan Fenton7 December 2016 10:30

The judges will be entering court to begin proceedings in the next few minutes

Siobhan Fenton7 December 2016 10:31

First, we'll be hearing from Gina Miller's lawyer Lord Pannick QC who is making the case against the Government

Siobhan Fenton7 December 2016 10:32

He began his arguments yesterday afternoon, when he told the court the Government had the chance to make the EU referendum legally binding

Siobhan Fenton7 December 2016 10:33

But declined to do so

Siobhan Fenton7 December 2016 10:33

He also said MPs must get a vote on Article 50, because leaving EU results in British citizens losing rights- which only MPs can approve

Siobhan Fenton7 December 2016 10:34

After Gina Miller's legal arguments from Lord Pannick, we'll be hearing from Dos Santos' legal representatives this afternoon

Siobhan Fenton7 December 2016 10:35

Dos Santos is another claimant bringing the case against the Government

Siobhan Fenton7 December 2016 10:35

The judges have arrived and Lord Pannick QC is on his feet making the case against the Government

Siobhan Fenton7 December 2016 10:35

Lord Pannick says we must decide whether we can consider the purpose of bills, as well as their content

Siobhan Fenton7 December 2016 10:39

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