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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.

The majority of Northern Irish people voted to remain and there is considerable anxiety locally about Brexit and impact on border with RoI

Siobhan Fenton5 December 2016 13:36

However, as Sin Fein are abstentionist MPs who don't take Westminster seats and so can't vote against Article 50...

Siobhan Fenton5 December 2016 13:37

... SDLP have a real opportunity here to show leadership, distinguish themselves from Sinn Fein and ride anti-Brexit sentiment in N. Ireland

Siobhan Fenton5 December 2016 13:39

View from inside Supreme Court. So much for Farage's 100k protesters- police & journalists must outnumber them 2 to 1 http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cy6r2CiXEAA1-6s.jpg

Siobhan Fenton5 December 2016 13:46

Court is due back in 5 minutes, when the legal arguments and our live coverage will resume

Siobhan Fenton5 December 2016 13:54

Arguments are expected to last from 2pm- 4:30pm this afternoon

Siobhan Fenton5 December 2016 13:55

We're expecting to hear from James Eadie QC on behalf of the government again, as well as Lord Keen QC- who is Advocate General for Scotland

Siobhan Fenton5 December 2016 13:56

I'm at the Supreme Court, where judges have just resumed hearing the case on Article 50. Live updates here independent.co.uk/news/uk/politi…

Siobhan Fenton5 December 2016 14:03

Supreme Court has just published a draft transcript of everything said in court during this morning's session, here supremecourt.uk/docs/draft-tra…

Siobhan Fenton5 December 2016 14:14

We're now discussing the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cy6xPueXEAAg9Pq.jpg

JolyonMaugham5 December 2016 14:16

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