The high court has ruled that parliament alone has the power to trigger Brexit by notifying Brussels of the UK’s intention to leave the European Union.
The judgment regarding article 50 is likely to delay Britain’s departure from the EU. This will be a huge setback for Theresa May who had insisted the government alone would decide when to the country would leave the European Union.
Unless overturned on appeal at the supreme court, the ruling threatens to interrupt the government’s plans for Brexit as the process will be subject to full parliamentary control.
Below are some of our readers’ comments on the ruling. You can click on the time stamps to view the whole conversation and add your thoughts.
If we are to leave the EU we must leave as ‘one broadly united country’
All is not lost for Brexiters - they did win the referendum after all
We Brexiters must accept the rule of law. Rash outbursts will help no one. At the end of the day we won the referendum and I sincerely believe that the vast majority of us stand by our vote, alongside the many honourable Remainers who would be sickened by the voice of the people being ignored.
One word of warning for the more extremist remainers: do you really want to show the people of the UK that democracy is an illusion? If people are not heard even when they win, how will you ever sell the idea of the UK being democratic again?
A win for parliamentary democracy
Brilliant! The High Court has decided to keep our parliamentary democracy, at least for the time being.
What a messy business
This isn’t about Brexit, but constitutional reform
This judgement is not about Brexit. It is about the chaotic lack of constitutional reform in the UK. The casual use of referenda, the long running undemocratic farce of the House of Lords, uneven and unfinished devolution, the archaic, sclerotic and corrupt practices of the House of Commons. Where is the political party that will offer us a way out of this unconstitutional mess?
Parliament will still vote to trigger article 50
As a remainer I do think that the ruling is right. The referendum allows the people to say what they want to happen and then Parliament votes on it.
I do however expect Parliament to vote to trigger article 50 as that is the will of the people, I would however expect quite a few MP's to vote against as the vote was very close. If they know their constituents voted against then they should vote against.
As a Brexiter I welcome this news and the inevitable majority parliamentary vote in favour of proceeding.
MP's will listen to the electorate.
Will the government appeal?
Will the government appeal - all the way to to the European court? Or perhaps twist a few judges' arms to get the result they want next time!
They might, but it would be ‘irksome’
If I was the Attorney General, I would find the government's decision to appeal irksome.
When you are in a deep hole, you stop digging. If the Government was sensible they would drop this and focus their attention on the debates and bringing the majority of MPs on board.
I'd say that there is zero chance of the Government overturning this opinion on appeal. It is a pointless exercise.
If Theresa May and her merry band were funding the legal case out of their own pockets, they would not do it. And it's not fair that they continue to waste precious taxpayer money on it.
Charlie Mullins who was one of the claimants rightly said, "If this was a boxing match it would have been stopped a long time ago".
Endless referendums!
Oh this creates so much potential fun.
Endless referendums on the same subject.
Parliament vs people debate until we're bored stiff
Can't wait until next Scottish referendum - you may have voted out but parliament must decide.
The news is not that exciting
I don't quite understand why everybody is so excited. Any MPs interested in keeping their jobs will not seek to block or overturn the referendum result - especially when there are significantly more constituencies that voted to Leave than to Remain. This will be nothing but a few months of backroom drama before article-50 is triggered anyway.
Will Brexit ever actually happen?
This could take so long that I'd have time to get qualified as a lawyer, get practiced and then join in the fun and earn my pension.
Easy to see why trade deals take so long to negotiate when we are still arguing about what our own constitutional arrangements are.
"High court says parliament must vote on triggering article 50 "
Long term this is a very good thing. It's speaks to inclusion. The country leaving the EU with 48% unsatisfied would be disastrous. If we are to leave the EU we must leave as one broadly united country, not a majority in a referendum.