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LONDON -- British Prime Minister Theresa May suffered a major setback Thursday when England's High Court ruled the British government needs parliamentary approval to trigger the process of Britain leaving the European Union.
Govt lawyers had argued that the May govt had the power under Royal Prerogative to start the process without the need for parliamentary approval
May has always resisted calls for a parliamentary vote, viewing it as an attempt to subvert democracy following the vote by the British people in the June 23 referendum to leave the EU by a margin of 52-48.
She planned to trigger article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, the formal step needed to start negotiations for Brexit, by the end of March at the latest, meaning the final separation between Britain and Brussels would happen by March 2019 at the latest.
Government lawyers had argued that the May government had the power under Royal Prerogative to start the process without the need for parliamentary approval.
The government immediately said it would appeal the ruling to the highest court in England, the Supreme Court, which has arranged an urgent hearing to deal with the matter on Dec 5-8.
A group of individuals took the Brexit case to the High Court to argue that the British Prime Minister had no legal power to trigger Article 50 without the prior authorization of the British Parliament.
A number of MPs in the House of Commons, as well as some members of the upper chamber, the House of Lords, have also been demanding a vote in parliament.
The eagerly awaited judgement followed three days of intensive arguments by lawyers from both sides. The decision was handed down by three senior judges at the High Court.
