British Prime Minister Theresa May will open discussions to formally trigger Britain’s exit from the European Union (EU) without holding a parliamentary vote on Brexit.
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Ministers will “discuss the next steps in the negotiations”, a government source told the Telegraph, before the prime minister heads to China for a meeting of G20 world leaders.
The Prime Minister faces legal challenges over whether she can begin the process without MPs’ approval, but the Daily Telegraph has reported that she has been informed by government lawyers that no approval is necessary.
Most MPs and peers were in favour of the United Kingdom remaining before the June 23 vote to Leave, and there have been calls from Remain campaigners for parliament to frustrate or even prevent Brexit.
The House of Lords is also overwhelmingly in favour of Britain staying in the European Union, meaning that obtaining formal parliamentary approval for Brexit could take years.
Last week, Owen Smith, the Labour leadership candidate, set out plans to block Article 50 in Parliament.
He said: “Under my leadership, Labour won’t give the Tories a blank cheque”.
Prime Minister Theresa May wants to trigger Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union without a vote in parliament, a report said on Saturday (Aug 27).
“I hope Jeremy will support me in such a move”.
Earlier this year, Tony Blair suggested that the United Kingdom should be open to the idea of holding a second referendum. “The country should carry on being engaged in this debate, it should carry on expressing its view”, he said. The case, which will be heard in the High Court in October, claims that Article 50 can not be invoked until the European Communities Act of 1972 is repealed.
Last month eurosceptic MPs hit out at a London law firm after it revealed it was prepared to launch legal action over the triggering of Article 50, which would begin the UK’s formal exit from the EU.
It emerged yesterday that MPs from all parts of the United Kingdom could be sidelined by May, who has received legal advice than she can proceed with Brexit without a vote at Westminster. The bottom line is that there is nothing that could possibly be allowed to stand in its way. “Everyone in Europe is expecting it, the decision has been taken by the British people, and that’s it. Let’s get on with it”, he said.
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May has said it will not be triggered this year, the government needing time to shape Britain’s exit objectives first.
