Brexit can only commence with parliament consent, UK Supreme Court rules

UK Prime Minister Theresa May can only start Britain's divorce proceedings from the EU with parliament's approval. Scotland's parliament and the Welsh and Northern Ireland assemblies, however, do not have a say.


By a vote of 8 to 3, the UK Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that Prime Minister Theresa May's government cannot trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty without an act of parliament authorizing it.

The outcome of the Supreme Court case, heard by all 11 justices over four days in December, does not overturn June's referendum result which saw 52 percent of the UK vote in favor of leaving the EU.

Parliament will now be expected to hold the vote within the next nine weeks in order to abide by the government's deadline for triggering Article 50, scheduled for no later than March 31. The consequent negotiations are expected to last up to two years.

Prime Minister Theresa May has also pledged that she will submit the final Brexit deal to both the House of Lords, as well as to the House of Commons.
  [dw.com]
24/1/17