No Brexit without parliament
Supreme Court says Theresa May must seek an act of Parliament to trigger two-year countdown
London — The highest UK court ruled Prime Minister Theresa May must seek an act of Parliament to trigger the two-year countdown to Brexit, handing legislators a chance to soften the government’s plan. The court had ruled against the government by an 8-3 vote, Judge David Neuberger said on Tuesday. The judges ruled unanimously, however, that legislatures in Scotland and Northern Ireland did not get to vote on the Article 50 process. The judges said the withdrawal would make a fundamental change by cutting off the source of EU law, as well as changing legal rights. The UK’s constitutional arrangements required such changes to be clearly authorised by parliament, and legislators must be involved in triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, they ruled. "Only legislation which is embodied in a statute will do," Neuberger said. "A resolution of the House of Commons is not legislation. What form such legislation should take is entirely a matter for Parliament." The decision is a defeat f...
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