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
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Your support makes all the difference.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.
Latest updates:
- Theresa May admits EU leaders will try to 'punish' UK in Brexit negotiations
- Welsh Government's lawyer tells court Brexit 'has split the UK into four parts' and is 'one of the most divisive political events in decades'
- Labour hit by backbench revolt over Article 50 Tory 'trap' fears
- EU judges to decide on UK cases for years after Brexit
- Scotland and Northern Ireland must approve Article 50, Supreme Court told
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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 asks government's lawyer- what actually is the Great Repeal Bill? Can we have more information about it?
Judge says he heard Great Repeal Bill mentioned at Conservative Party conference but no details since- asks if a white paper was published?
Govt lawyer says that as Article 50 did't exist in 1972 there couldn't have been an intention to abrogate power to trigger it
3 hours into the Supreme Court Brexit case:- Men have spoken for 2 hours, 59 minutes, 14 seconds- Women have spoken for 46 seconds
EadieQC under pressure. Lords Wilson, Mance & Sumption challenge him over assertion that ministers have power to sweep away EU membership
Lord Mance says there's a "huge difference" between changes to the rules of the club and deciding not to be a member of the club.
My reading: SC (taken together) instinctively thinks the Government can't do what it wants to. But Eadie is not helping them figure out why.
(That, of course, is a great compliment to Eadie. His style is less dynamic than Pannick's but he's every bit as brilliant an advocate).
Judges challenging govt lawyer- saying his arguments may apply to amending EU relationship, but not withdrawing from it altogether
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