THE Supreme Court has decided that Parliament must have a formal vote on triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.

Citizens on both sides of the referendum argument should welcome and respect this judgement.

Many Brexit campaigners fought hard during the campaign to make the case for the importance of restoring Parliamentary sovereignty. So it is right that it is an Act of Parliament that is passed to trigger the formal process for leaving the European Union.

The Conservative Government was cavalier in its attitude on this subject, as was the leader of the Labour party, who called for the trigger the day after the referendum.

Perhaps unwittingly, the Supreme Court judgement has helped crystallise the implications of remaining in the EU. Section 2 of the1972 Act resulted in British law being made inferior to EU law. That’s why we are in the position today that our Parliament is unable to make laws that contradict EU law, such as managing migration or enacting international trade deals.

In passing the legislation to give effect to the referendum, MPs voted by six-to-one to put the decision into the hands of the people. Ultimately, the people are sovereign. They decided by a majority that we should leave the EU.

In a representative democracy, Parliament has a duty to enable the sovereign will of the people. If they frustrate the process, then MPs in Brexit supporting constituencies will pay a heavy price at the next general election.

If the unelected Lords try to prevent Brexit then they will spark a constitutional crisis not seen since 1909, when a democratically elected government could not get its financial measures passed by Peers.

Councillor Tom Bewick represents Westbourne ward