MP: I will not support those who plan to throw us off Brexit cliff edge

Yesterday morning judges at the Supreme Court rejected the Government’s argument the Prime Minister could use prerogative powers to kick off the talks under Article 50, ruling instead it must first seek Parliament’s approval.

Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas said the ruling was “a win for Parliamentary democracy” and stated her intention to vote against the Article 50 bill.

The Green Party co-leader said: “As the co-leader of a Party which stands for environmental, social and economic justice I will not support a Government offering no assurances to EU nationals living in Britain, threatening to turn this country into a tax haven and planning to throw us off the Brexit cliff edge by ending our membership of the Single Market and Customs Union.”

Ms Lucas called on the Labour Party to rethink its support of triggering Article 50, as speculation mounts Party leader Jeremy Corbyn will strictly instruct Labour MPs to vote to trigger Article 50.

Hove MP Peter Kyle said he would defy a three line whip from his party and vote against the bill because of the lack of information on the terms of Brexit.

He said: “Right now I feel there is not enough certainty or clarity offered that makes me believe all the things that make my city great are going to weather the tumultuous impact of leaving the biggest social and economic union and heading towards the destination of which we have have not one single bit of clarity.

“We are being shunted into darkness, not the light we were promised and I can’t go along with this. My conscience won’t allow me to shun the community that elected me into a perilous siltation.

Mr Kyle said to even consider voting to trigger Article 50 he would need to be reassured Brexit would not affect tourism to the city, hamper students and academics coming to our universities and would not harm local business.

Theresa May is planning to introduce legislation within days to ensure the Government can stick to its timetable of triggering Article 50 by the end of March. Brexit Secretary David David said the Supreme Court Ruling would not derail Brexit.

He told MPs: “There can be no turning back. The point of no return was passed on June 23 last year.”

Q&A ON THE COURT RULING AND WHAT HAPPENS NOW

What was the ruling?

During the hearing campaigners argued that denying the UK Parliament a vote on triggering Brexit was undemocratic and a breach of a long-standing constitutional principles.

They said triggering Article 50 would mean overturning existing UK law so MPs and peers should decide.

The Government argued that under Royal Prerogative (powers handed to ministers by the Crown), it could trigger Brexit without the need to consult Parliament.

Reading out the judgement, Supreme Court President Lord Neuberger said: “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.

“Withdrawal effects a fundamental change by cutting off the source of EU la, 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.

What happens next?

The Government is expected to present a Parliamentary bill on Article 50 within days, which MPs will then vote yes or no to. Brexit Secretary David Davis said: “It’s not about whether the UK should leave the European Union. That decision has already been made by people in the UK.

Prime Minister Theresa May is expected to get the Article 50 bill through the Commons with a Conservative majority and given that only one Tory rebel, Ken Clarke, has said he would vote against Article 50.

David Davis told MPs the legislation would be introduced within days to ensure the Government sticks to its timetable of triggering Article 50 by the end of March.

But Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has already indicated he would seek to amend the Bill to prevent “Conservatives using Brexit to turn Britain into a bargain basement tax haven off the coast of Europe”.

The Scottish National Party has also it would put forward 50 “serious and substantive” amendments to the Government’s Parliamentary bill for triggering Article 50.

The question remains whether a coalition of pro-European Labour, Tory and Liberal Democrat MPs can join forces to get concession from the Government over the amount of scrutiny Parliament can have over the two-year process of negotiating Brexit.

What do we know of the Government’s aims for Brexit negotiations?

In a speech last week the Prime Minister revealed a 12-point plan for the Brexit negotiations.

Among the key aims were control over the number of people who come to Britain from Europe and to leave the single market and instead trade with European markets through a “bold and ambitious free trade agreement” with the European Union.

She also confirmed MPs and peers will get a vote on the final Brexit deal, raising the prospect of a clash with Remain-supporting backbenchers and members of the House of Lords.

But EU leaders in Brussels are focused on holding the European project together, which means they could drive a hard bargain in negotiations with Britain.

The EU is worried Brexit could trigger a domino effect and could make an example of Britain.

Theresa May has already said she would much rather have no deal than accept a bad deal for Britain.

She warned leaders in Brussels that any attempt to damage the UK in negotiations would be an “act of calamitous self-harm” for the EU.

She also made clear that “the days of Britain making vast contributions to the EU are at an end”, amid demands from EU leaders that the UK pays tens of billions to Brussels for trading rights even after Brexit.

How long will Brexit take once Article 50 is triggered?

The process is supposed to take two years but many people believe that it could take longer.

Triggering Article 50, formally notifying the intention to withdraw from the EU, starts the clock running.

After that, the treaties that govern membership will no longer apply to Britain.

The terms of exit will be negotiated between Britain’s 27 counterparts and each will have a veto over the conditions.

It will also be subject to ratification in national parliaments, meaning for example, that French MPs could hold up the entire process.

ACTION IS EXPECTED WITHIN DAYS

LEGISLATION will be introduced “within days” to ensure the Government can stick to its timetable of triggering the process of leaving the European Union by the end of March, Brexit Secretary David Davis has told MPs.

Mr Davis said the Government’s defeat in a historic court battle over Brexit in the Supreme Court would not derail Theresa May’s timetable to kick off the two-year process of withdrawal negotiations.

He said the Supreme Court ruling did not affect the fact Britain will be leaving the EU in line with the result of the 2016 referendum, telling MPs: “There can be no turning back.

“The point of no return was passed on June 23 last year.”

By a majority of eight to three, judges at the Supreme Court rejected the Government’s argument the Prime Minister could use prerogative powers to kick off the talks under Article 50, ruling instead it must first seek Parliament’s approval.

In a statement to the House of Commons, Mr Davis said this would be done by means of “the most straightforward Bill possible to give effect to the decision of the people and respect the Supreme Court’s judgment”.

The purpose of the Bill will be “simply to give the Government the power to invoke Article 50 and begin the process of leaving the European Union”, he said.

He added: “Parliament will rightly scrutinise and debate this legislation.

“But I trust no one will seek to make it a vehicle for attempts to thwart the will of the people or frustrate or delay the process of exiting the European Union.”