Friday, March 29, 2024 | Ramadan 18, 1445 H
clear sky
weather
OMAN
25°C / 25°C
EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

May braces for new Brexit battle over court ruling

906004
906004
minus
plus

LONDON: British Prime Minister Theresa May faces a landmark court ruling on Tuesday that could put a dent in her Brexit plans by handing control of the process to restive lawmakers. The Supreme Court will decide whether she can use her executive power to begin formal talks on leaving the EU, or whether she must seek prior approval from parliament. The 11 judges are widely expected to back an earlier High Court ruling that the magnitude of Brexit means the process to instigate it can only be introduced through formal legislation.


May has promised to trigger Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon treaty, beginning two years of divorce talks, by the end of March.


In the event they lose the case, ministers are preparing to rush emergency legislation through the Houses of Commons and Lords.


The vote on Article 50 should pass, because although May has only a slim majority among MPs, the main opposition Labour party has agreed not to block it.


But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he would table amendments to the bill demanding ministers protect access to Europe’s single market and workers’ rights.


The Supreme Court ruling could create further complications by stating that devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland must consent to May’s plans.


And this week the prime minister promised parliament a vote on the final Brexit deal — raising the prospect, however remote, that MPs could reject it.


The original High Court decision in November drew outrage from Brexit supporters, who accused the claimants of trying to undo the result of last June’s EU referendum.


One newspaper condemned the judges as “Enemies of the People” — and tensions are still running high.


But Jo Murkens, associate law professor at the London School of Economics, said the case was about the limits of the government’s “royal prerogative” powers.


“It would be much easier if the prime minister could just do as she pleased using prerogative power. The problem is that the courts have not allowed that since the 17th century,” he said.


He said a ruling against the government would be unlikely to bind its hands, but would clarify “there is a proper process and it’s (through) parliament”.


“If you’ve got a majority then you’re in the clear — but if you don’t have a majority you’ve got a political problem,” he said.


The majority of MPs campaigned against Brexit, but most now accept it will happen — and that the process will begin within weeks.


May’s announcement this week that she would pull Britain out of Europe’s single market has galvanised some of her critics, however.


Dozens of Labour MPs may defy their leader and vote against the government, alongside members of the Scottish National Party (SNP), which has 54 MPs in the 650-seat House of Commons. — AFP


SHARE ARTICLE
arrow up
home icon