Brexit legal challenge live: MPs don't actually want to vote on Article 50, government lawyer claims
The appeal against MPs voting on Article 50 is now in its second day
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Here are the latest updates:
- Theresa May performs U-turn and now will reveal Brexit plans before Article 50 vote
- Government rejected an opportunity to make EU referendum legally binding, lawyer claims
- MPs don't actually want to vote on Article 50, government lawyer claims
- Judges accuse the Government's lawyer of contradicting himself "twice in five minutes"
- Amber Rudd reveals EU citizens living in Britain will need identity cards after Brexit
- EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier says Brexit deal could be reached by October 2018
Please wait a moment for the live blog to load:
The Supreme Court is today hearing the second day of arguments in the Brexit legal challenge.
11 of the most senior judges in the UK are hearing the government's appeal to a High Court ruling that Theresa May must let MPs vote on whether to trigger Article 50.
Yesterday, the court heard from government lawyer James Eadie QC and Attorney General Jeremy Wright. The lawyers argued the Prime Minister has authority to trigger the mechanism and begin EU withdrawal processes.
However, the judges questioned why more details haven't been provided about what will be in the Great Repeal Bill, the legislation through which the government intends to legislate for life outside the EU.
The judges also said serious threats have been made to claimants in the case and warned they must be stopped.
The case is expected to last four days in total, ending on Thursday.
Govt lawyer brings up the 2015 EU referendum act, through which then Prime Minister David Cameron set out the referendum
Eadie says the High Court acted as if the referendum act was "legally irrelevant", when it ruled against the government last time
Eadie says it would be "little short of bizarre' for Supreme Court to take the same stance
4 hours into the Supreme Court Brexit case:- Men have spoken for 3 hours, 59 minutes, 11 seconds- Women have spoken for 49 seconds
Court now discussing whether the EU referendum really was legally binding, or was merely advisory
Remember: court is giving the government a hard time because it is first to speak. They will give Pannick and the others a hard time too.
Eadie: Now refers to House of Commons library briefing paper written by a librarian and says reliance on it is unhe… twitter.com/i/web/status/8…
Government lawyer says "the ordinary man or woman on the street" would think the referendum was legally binding
Laughter in the court in response. Judge responds that Supreme Court is there to decide what the law says, not what people think it says
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments