Brexit will face Commons vote after UK Government loses High Court challenge

House of Commons - Dods

Judges have ruled Theresa May cannot trigger the mechanism to leave the European Union without consulting MPs.

May’s had planned to activate Article 50, formally notifying the EU of the UK's intention to leave, by the end of next March without a vote in the House of Commons.

However, the High Court withheld the case brought by finance entrepreneur Gina Miller and hairdresser Deir dos Santos to force a parliamentary vote. Miller said the case had been ”about process not politics”.

Triggering Article 50 is not within the UK Government’s power, according to the ruling. An act of parliament would be required.

“Parliament is sovereign” the judges said.

The Government is expected to appeal against the ruling at the Supreme Court.

Secretary of State for International Trade Liam Fox said the Government was “disappointed” by the ruling and that the “country voted to leave” in a referendum sanctioned by Parliament.