Parliament must vote on whether the UK can start the process of leaving the EU, the High Court ruled on Thursday.
This means the government cannot trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty – beginning formal discussions with the EU – on their own.
Prime Minister Theresa May says the referendum – and existing ministerial powers – mean MPs do not need to vote, but campaigners called this unconstitutional.
The government is appealing, with a further hearing expected next month.
If the court’s decision was not overturned, there could be delays with potentially “months and months” of parliamentary hurdles, reported the BBC.
The PM had said she will activate Article 50, formally notifying the EU of the UK’s intention to leave, by the end of next March.
The other 27 member states have said negotiations about the terms of the UK’s exit – due to last two years – cannot begin until Article 50 has been invoked.
GOVERNMENT “SHOULD BE WISE”
Gina Miller, who brought the case, said outside the High Court after Thursday’s announcement that the government should make the “wise decision of not appealing.”
She said: “The result today is about all of us. It’s not about me or my team. It’s about our UK and all our futures.”
A government spokesperson announced it would contest the ruling at the Supreme Court.
“The country voted to leave the EU in a referendum approved by Act of Parliament, and the government is determined to respect the result of the referendum. We will appeal this judgement,” the Spokesperson said, according to the BBC.
“BETRAYAL”
UKIP leader Nigel Farage said he feared a “betrayal” of the 51.9 per cent of voters who backed leaving the EU in June’s referendum.
“I now fear that every attempt will be made to block or delay the triggering of Article 50. If this is so, they have no idea of the level of public anger they will provoke,” stated Farage.
NO DELAY
Labour boss Jeremy Corbyn urged the government “to bring its negotiating terms to parliament without delay,” adding that “there must be transparency and accountability to Parliament on the terms of Brexit.”
Corbyn further outlined that “Labour respects the decision of the British people to leave the EU.”
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