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As it happenedended

Brexit legal challenge: 'A six year old child could see flaws in Government's Brexit plans', Supreme Court told

Fourth and final day of the Supreme Court Brexit legal challenge has been heard and the judges have now retired to consider their decision

Siobhan Fenton
London
Thursday 08 December 2016 05:06 EST
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Lead claimant in the Article 50 case, Gina Miller arrives at the Supreme Court in London
Lead claimant in the Article 50 case, Gina Miller arrives at the Supreme Court in London (EPA)

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The Government's Brexit plans are so flawed "even a six year old child could see it", the Supreme Court has been told.

The claims were made by Richard Gordon QC, Law Officer of the Welsh Government, who told the court Welsh politicians should be allowed to approve plans to trigger Article 50.

The Supreme Court was hearing final arguments in the Brexit legal challenge as the case entered its fourth and final day.

Opponents to the Government's Brexit plans outlined their case; with representatives of Wales, Scotland, ex-pats and children's rights putting their case to judges.

The Government's lawyers then had their final opportunity to refute the claims and make their case that Theresa May has sufficient authority to trigger Article 50 without a vote from MPs. The argued the 2015 Referendum Act which outlined the terms of the EU referendum did not specify who could trigger Article 50.

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All 11 of the Supreme Court justices, who are the most senior judges in the UK, heard the case and have now retired to reach their decision.

A judgment is expected to be announced early in the new year.

Judge is now citing one of Eadies' case examples from yesterday, saying he read it overnight and doesn't think it's comparable to this case

Siobhan Fenton6 December 2016 11:15

Eadie says he accepts lots of his examples aren't quite like the Brexit challenge, he's using them to illustrate certain elements- not all

Siobhan Fenton6 December 2016 11:16

Judge- are we saying the referendum may as well have never happened because the question will have to go to parliament any way?

Siobhan Fenton6 December 2016 11:20

Judge says that has major political consequences. Eadie says we're here to look at the legal consequences, not the political ones

Siobhan Fenton6 December 2016 11:20

Judge agrees

Siobhan Fenton6 December 2016 11:20

Eadie- Great Repeal Bill will have "great complexities", adding dryly that it "will give us years of entertainment" figuring it out

Siobhan Fenton6 December 2016 11:30

Eadie says there is "eternal optimism" about the Great Repeal Bill

Siobhan Fenton6 December 2016 11:31

(Which sounds exactly like something a politician might say, while having little legal weight) ...

Siobhan Fenton6 December 2016 11:32

... (- again contradicting his earlier call for law not politics)

Siobhan Fenton6 December 2016 11:32

While we've been in court this morning, the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier has said a Brexit deal could be reached by Oct 2018

Siobhan Fenton6 December 2016 11:41

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