UK PM loses Article 50 appeal, parliamentary approval required for Brexit
The UK Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that Prime Minister Theresa May must get parliaments approval before she begins Britains formal exit from the European Union.
The UKs highest judicial body dismissed the governments argument that May could simply use executive powers known as royal prerogative to invoke Article 50 of the EUs Lisbon Treaty and begin two years of divorce talks.
However, the court rejected arguments that the UKs devolved assemblies in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales should give their assent before Article 50 is invoked.
The referendum is of great political significance, but the Act of Parliament which established it did not say what should happen as a result, said David Neuberger, President of the Supreme Court which ruled by 8-3 against the government.
So any change in the law to give effect to the referendum must be made in the only way permitted by the UK constitution, namely by an Act of Parliament.
May has repeatedly said she would trigger Article 50 before the end of March but she will now have to seek the consent of lawmakers first, potentially meaning her plans could be amended or delayed, although the main opposition Labour Party has said it would not slow her timetable.
http://www.france24.com/en/20170124-uk-parliamentary-approval-required-trigger-brexit-supreme-court-rules