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Brexit latest news: Theresa May to introduce Bill 'within days' after Supreme Court ruling

Supreme Court says Government must seek parliamentary approval to trigger Article 50

Ashley Cowburn
Political Correspondent
Tuesday 24 January 2017 08:31 GMT
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Supreme Court rules parliament must vote on Brexit

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The Supreme Court has ruled Theresa May cannot withdraw Britain from the EU alone and must get approval from MPs and peers first.

Here are the latest updates

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Their decision will affect whether Ms May has enough authority to trigger Article 50 on her own, the process through which a country can begin to leave the EU.he case has been brought by banker Gina Miller, along with other appellants including a crowd-funded cohort titled The Peoples' Challenge. They argued that despite the 23 June referendum, which saw Britain vote to leave the EU, MPs are still entitled to vote on whether or not it actually happens.

In November, the High Court heard the case and ruled against the government. The Prime Minister's lawyers appealed the case meaning it was transferred to the Supreme Court.

It is widely expected the government will also lose this case.

Ms May has spoken of her desire to trigger Article 50 by the end of March.

She has also outlined a so-called Hard Brexit, which would feature withdrawal from the single market.

Unite union general secretary Len McCluskey said: "The Supreme Court judges made the right decision for the people of this country.

"There has been scant detail in the Prime Minister's statements to date. What she has said on workers' rights has been ambiguous and her declaration that the country would not seek access to the single market is shocking.

"It is now for our MPs to hold the Government to account. They must defend workers' rights, both now and from future Conservative Party threats."

Kristin Hugo24 January 2017 11:01
Kristin Hugo24 January 2017 11:06

Kristin Hugo24 January 2017 11:28

Kristin Hugo24 January 2017 11:37

Leave.EU chairman Arron Banks has said: "Today's judgment gives our out-of-touch establishment the ability to soften or delay the clean Brexit a majority of the British people voted for.

"The people have been let down. Parliament gave us a referendum and the people had their say, yet the power has now been handed back to Westminster by our unelected establishment judges. This decision shows how broken the system is - true democracy is being thwarted.

"This Tory Government wants to be a champion for ordinary people, now May must prove it by driving Brexit through Parliament post-haste - 17.4 million voters will be watching her every move."

Samuel Osborne24 January 2017 11:48

Samuel Osborne24 January 2017 11:51

A statement from Brexit minister David Davis on the process for triggering article 50 is expected at 12.30pm today.

Samuel Osborne24 January 2017 11:53

Tory former chancellor Lord Lamont said the split vote showed the law is "not unambiguous" but warned against delaying Article 50.

"We are about to discover which MPs, which peers and which parties are sincere in saying they respect the vote of the people," he said.

"Any delay will lead to an enormous awakening of bitterness.

"The House of Lords in particular, as an unelected body, needs to tread very carefully and avoid triggering a constitutional crisis."

Samuel Osborne24 January 2017 11:56

Tory former Cabinet minister Iain Duncan Smith said the ruling was made by a "self-appointed court".

He told BBC Two's Victoria Derbyshire show: "You've got to understand that, of course, there's the European issue but there's also the issue about who is supreme - Parliament or a self-appointed court.

"This is the issue here right now, so I was intrigued that it was a split judgment, I'm disappointed they've decided to tell Parliament how to run its business.

"After all, there was a vote before in December overwhelmingly to trigger Article 50, so they've stepped into new territory where they've actually told Parliament not just that they should do something but actually wha

Samuel Osborne24 January 2017 12:17

David Davis is now speaking in the Commons about the judgement. "This Government is determined to deliver the result of the referendum...

He says the Gov will shortly introduce legislation to the Commons - "it will be a straight forward bill". Davies adds the House passed a billing on giving the British public a choice on the matter 6-1

He adds the Supreme Court ruled that relations of the EU are reserved for the UK Parliament - not devolved governments. They do not have a veto. 

"Let me be clear, we believe in and value the independence of our judiciary... this judgement does not change the fact the UK will leave the EU.

We will "within days" introduce legislation to give the Government power to trigger Article 50, he adds. It will be a straight-forward Bill. 

"Our timetable for invoking Article 50 by the end of March still stands"... that was backed by the majority of the House in December, he says. 

Kristin Hugo24 January 2017 12:39

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