Supreme Court Decision on Article 50 and Parliament’s role

Let’s get on with Brexit negotiations this spring.

That was the verdict of leading MEP Syed Kamall following today’s Supreme Court legal ruling upholding/overturning a decision that only parliament can invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty and begin the two-year Brexit process.

Dr Kamall, Conservative MEP for London and leader of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group in Brussels, said: “While the Supreme Court has made its legal decision, it is important now that MPs deliver the democratic decision of the British people who voted on June 23rd last year to leave the EU. We must now allow our Prime Minister to get on with the job of negotiation without delay or restrictions.”

“There was uproar when the High Court issued its initial decision, but to me it was never such a big deal. If MPs are to have a say on invoking Article 50 then so be it. I have always trusted in the UK Parliament not to defy the will of the people by blocking the start of negotiations.

“While MPs are entitled to scrutinise, they must not be allowed to dictate or undermine our Prime Minister’s negotiation strategy. She has already responded to calls for more clarity by purposefully setting out her stall in her speech last week.

“She has handled things so well that the court case has turned out to be more of a sideshow than a showstopper. Now let’s all come together to allow the Prime Minister to get on with the details of the negotiations ahead.”

ENDS