- Title: Battle over Brexit begins at Supreme Court
- Date: 5th December 2016
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (DECEMBER 5, 2016) (REUTERS) ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR ENGLAND AND WALES, JEREMY WRIGHT, (ON RIGHT CARRYING BROWN FOLDER) WALKING INTO SUPREME COURT LEAD CLAIMANT AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT, GINA MILLER, ARRIVING MILLER POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS AT SUPREME COURT ENTRANCE BEFORE WALKING INSIDE
- Embargoed: 20th December 2016 10:38
- Keywords: Brexit Supreme Court Article 50 Gina Miller European Union
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: United Kingdom
- Reuters ID: LVA0015BLXYYV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: 3025-BRITAIN-EU/ARTICLE 50-MILLER (sent to WNE on Wednesday November 30) contains an interview with lead claimant Gina Miller
Prime Minister Theresa May's government launched a challenge on Monday (December 5) against a court ruling that it requires parliamentary approval to start the process of leaving the European Union, a decision that could upset Britain's Brexit plans.
If the Supreme Court, the United Kingdom's highest judicial body, dismisses the government appeal it could derail May's timetable for triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty and leaving the EU.
The government's legal fight comes against a backdrop of claims by some politicians and newspapers that establishment judges want to thwart the Brexit process.
It will be the most high-profile and complex case the court has considered since it came into being seven years ago and is due to last for four days. For the first time all its 11 justices will sit on the panel with the verdict due later in January.
If May wins, she can proceed with her plans to invoke Article 50 by the end of March.
But if she loses, parliament could in theory block Brexit as most lawmakers supported staying in the EU in a referendum in June, though few observers expect such an outcome. Even so, lawmaker approval could open the process to greater scrutiny and delay.
The High Court challenge was brought by investment fund manager Gina Miller with hairdresser Deir Tozetti Dos Santos the second claimant.
Other parties will also be allowed to offer legal arguments this week, including the devolved Welsh government, a group of ex-patriate Britons, and the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain which represents mainly low-paid migrant workers.
So too will the Scottish government, which strongly opposes Brexit and has been seeking ways to keep Scotland in the EU.
The case hinges on whether the government can use a historical power known as "royal prerogative" to invoke Article 50 without lawmakers' assent. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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