Britain's Supreme Court has ruled that the Parliament must vote on whether the government can formally trigger the process of leaving the EU without first consulting MPs.
The SC ruling deals a serious blow to Theresa May-led conservative government, which had sought to bypass the legislature to initiate the Brexit process.
The Prime Minister will now have to give Parliament the chance to vote on whether to trigger Article 50, the mechanism by which EU withdrawal can formally begin.
Eleven Supreme Court Justices delivered the ruling on Tuesday morning, following a four-day hearing last December.
Given the majority of MPs are in favor of EU membership, the process of actually triggering Article 50 could become drawn out, as lawmakers seek to delay the Bill by tabling amendments.
Speaking outside the Supreme Court, UK Attorney General Jeremy Wright said: “Of course the government is disappointed with the outcome, but we have the good fortune to live in a country where everyone … even government is subject to the rule of law, so the government will comply with the judgement of the court and do everything it can to implement it.”
“My client is delighted by today’s judgement,” said David Green, lawyer for Dos Santos.
