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.
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
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