The UK parliament must vote on whether the government can start the Brexit process or not, with no say from other countries in Britain, the supreme court has ruled.
The judgement means Theresa May cannot begin talks with the European Union until members of parliament and give their backing — although this is expected to happen in time for the government’s March 31 deadline.
According to BBC, the court ruled the Scottish Parliament and Welsh and Northern Ireland assemblies did not need a say.
“By a majority of eight to three, the Supreme Court today rules that the government cannot trigger Article 50 without an act of Parliament authorising it to do so,” Lord Neuberger, supreme court president, read.
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“Withdrawal effects a fundamental change by cutting off the source of EU law, as well as changing legal rights. The UK’s constitutional arrangements require such changes to be clearly authorised by Parliament.”
The court also rejected, unanimously, arguments that the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and Northern Ireland Assembly should get to vote on Article 50 before it is triggered.
Neuberger ruled that “relations with the EU are a matter for the UK government”.
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Brexit Secretary David Davis promised a straightforward parliamentary bill “within days”.
“It’s not about whether the UK should leave the European Union,” he said. “That decision has already been made by people in the United Kingdom.”
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