Tomas Prouza, the Czech secretary of state for European Union affairs, issued the warning following a meeting of leaders from the Visegrad Four – Poland, Hungary and the Czech and Slovak republics – and Angela Merkel in Warsaw yesterday. In July, the Prime Minister said: “I am committed to delivering on the verdict the public gave”.
Advertisement
The summit will represent Mrs May’s first worldwide trip outside Europe as Prime Minister and she is expected to use it to highlight post-Brexit opportunities to other world leaders.
Two senior Labour MPs, Barry Gardiner and Owen Smith, over the weekend urged May to hold a vote, risking a potential crisis if a majority of MPs voted to stay in the EU. “I hope Jeremy [Corbyn] will support me in such a move”.
The former United Kingdom shadow work and pensions secretary has added another twist to the already complex issue by vowing to block formal negotiations with European Union leaders until the British government offers a second European Union referendum or calls a general election to approve its final Brexit deal.
A Downing Street source said Brexit was “top of the in tray” for Mrs May as she begins her first full week back at work in Westminster after her summer holiday in Switzerland.
Lawyers from the Mishcon de Reya law firm are poised to challenge the government in the English High Court, arguing that May can not trigger Article 50 of the E.U.’s Lisbon Treaty-the legal process for leaving the bloc-without a parliamentary debate and vote authorizing her to do so. Obtaining legislative approval would likely be a lengthy process, as most members of Parliament campaigned in favor of staying in the EU.
The issue is likely to form a key part of the negotiations with the European Union after Britain triggers Article 50, which is expected to happen early next year.
“This could mean triggering Article 50, a referendum in other European nations leading to a break-up of the euro or sterling hitting below $1.20 or lower”.
Barry Gardiner, Labour’s shadow secretary of state for worldwide trade, Europe, energy and climate change, said parliament could not be sidelined from the greatest constitutional change the country has debated in 40 years.
The British political tussles also include one on whether to first consult parliament before triggering the so-called article 50 procedure to exit the EU.
The prime minister is expected to invoke Article 50 in early 2017.
Advertisement
“There is no legal obligation to consult parliament on triggering Article 50 – that position has been well set out”, the spokesman told reporters, adding that parliament had overwhelmingly backed holding the European Union referendum. Steve Baker MP, who campaigned for Brexit, has suggested that officials should be “summarily fired” if they tried to block the Brexit process.
