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Brexit: May 'confident' of winning Article 50 case appeal Brexit: May 'confident' of winning Article 50 case appeal
(35 minutes later)
Theresa May has said she is "confident" that the government will win its appeal against a High Court ruling on triggering Brexit talks.Theresa May has said she is "confident" that the government will win its appeal against a High Court ruling on triggering Brexit talks.
She told European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and Germany's Angela Merkel she was committed to triggering Article 50 by March 2017.She told European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and Germany's Angela Merkel she was committed to triggering Article 50 by March 2017.
Three judges ruled that she cannot do so without Parliament's support.Three judges ruled that she cannot do so without Parliament's support.
It comes as MP Stephen Phillips said he was quitting due to "irreconcilable" differences with the government.It comes as MP Stephen Phillips said he was quitting due to "irreconcilable" differences with the government.
Mr Phillips has been among Tory MPs pushing for Parliament to be consulted over the UK's negotiating strategy, accusing ministers of trying to "ignore their views".Mr Phillips has been among Tory MPs pushing for Parliament to be consulted over the UK's negotiating strategy, accusing ministers of trying to "ignore their views".
The government is appealing against Thursday's ruling to the Supreme Court - all 11 judges are due to hear the case in early December.The government is appealing against Thursday's ruling to the Supreme Court - all 11 judges are due to hear the case in early December.
The prime minister called Mr Juncker and Mrs Merkel on Friday morning. Her spokesman said she told them the government was "disappointed" at Thursday's court ruling but that "the focus of the government is on the Supreme Court case. We are confident of winning that case and proceeding with Article 50". After the prime minister called Mr Juncker and Mrs Merkel, her spokesman said she expressed "disappointment" at Thursday's court ruling but said "the focus of the government is on the Supreme Court case. We are confident of winning that case and proceeding with Article 50".
If it loses that appeal, it is expected that the government will have to publish some form of new law for MPs - and the House of Lords - to vote on.If it loses that appeal, it is expected that the government will have to publish some form of new law for MPs - and the House of Lords - to vote on.
But former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg - now the Lib Dems' Europe spokesman - said his party would seek to join with others "in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords to amend the legislation" to tell the government to pursue a "soft Brexit" that would keep the UK within the EU's single market. But former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg - now the Lib Dems' Europe spokesman - said his party would seek to join with others "in both the Commons and the Lords to amend the legislation" to tell the government to pursue a "soft Brexit" that would keep the UK within the EU's single market.
He told Radio 4's Today that he also wanted to give the public "a say" on the final deal after EU negotiations are complete. "If they believe the government is pursuing an unnecessarily hard, in other words an unnecessarily self-harming version of Brexit, then of course MPs should be free to reject that," he told Radio 4's Today.
Also on Friday, German foreign minister Walter Steinmeier reiterated the German government's desire to see Article 50 triggered quickly at a Berlin press conference with Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, ruling out any "preliminary discussions" before then.
Analysis by Jenny Hill, BBC Berlin correspondent
Boris Johnson's opening quip that (unlike his wife) he is not a Berliner did little to improve a rather frosty joint press conference after his first official bilateral meeting with his German counterpart Frank Walter Steinmeier.
It is Mr Johnson's first visit as foreign secretary to Berlin, where he's widely regarded - in some cases with contempt - as being directly responsible for Britain's decision to leave the EU.
This wasn't the outcome the German government hoped for. But now the decision's made they'd rather Britain just got on with it.
Mr Steinmeier - who looked unimpressed by Mr Johnson's assertion that Brexit represented an opportunity - emphasised the need for the British government to trigger Article 50 as soon as possible.
His priority, he added, was to the remaining 27 member states.
Thursday's High Court ruling found that the government could not trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty alone, without the backing of Parliament - which would require publishing legislation to be debated by the Commons and the Lords.
The government has argued that it cannot "show its hand in detail" ahead of negotiations with 27 other EU member states, despite calls from MPs to clarify her plans.
Conservative peer Lady Wheatcroft told BBC Radio 4's Today she was willing to table an amendment to future legislation to delay the Brexit process, saying it was "only right to delay triggering Article 50 until we have a clearer idea of what it actually entails".
But former Conservative cabinet minister Theresa Villiers told the programme: "Frankly I think it would be a constitutional outrage if unelected Liberal Democrat peers were to stand in the way of implementing the clear result of a referendum in which 33 million people took part."
What happens next?What happens next?
The government's appeal is expected to be heard in early December by the full Supreme Court - 11 judges - for the first time in its history.The government's appeal is expected to be heard in early December by the full Supreme Court - 11 judges - for the first time in its history.
The judgement may not be handed down until January.The judgement may not be handed down until January.
If the appeal fails, it is thought the government will then have to bring forward legislation - which would have to be approved by both Houses of Parliament.If the appeal fails, it is thought the government will then have to bring forward legislation - which would have to be approved by both Houses of Parliament.
The bill could be subject to amendments. MPs and peers may push for more details of the government's negotiating strategy or possibly for a second referendum.The bill could be subject to amendments. MPs and peers may push for more details of the government's negotiating strategy or possibly for a second referendum.
The government wants to trigger Article 50 by the end of March 2017 so any legislation would need to be approved by then if the timetable is not to be pushed back.The government wants to trigger Article 50 by the end of March 2017 so any legislation would need to be approved by then if the timetable is not to be pushed back.
"These are fundamental issues which, of course, as part of this process need to be brought before MPs, and MPs should feel free to scrutinise them," he said.
"And if they believe that the government is pursuing an unnecessarily hard, in other words an unnecessarily self-harming version of Brexit, then of course MPs should be free to reject that."
But former Conservative cabinet minister Theresa Villiers told the programme: "Frankly I think it would be a constitutional outrage if unelected Liberal Democrat peers were to stand in the way of implementing the clear result of a referendum in which 33 million people took part."
Thursday's High Court ruling found that the government could not trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty alone, without the backing of Parliament - which would require publishing legislation to be debated by the Commons and the Lords.
The government has argued that it cannot "show its hand in detail" ahead of negotiations with 27 other EU member states, despite calls from MPs to clarify her plans.
Communities Secretary Sajid Javid told BBC One's Question Time that the ruling by the High Court was a "clear attempt to frustrate the will of the British people" despite a "very, very clear" result from the EU referendum.
Early election?
For Labour, shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said that while she thought "that in the end Parliament will vote for Article 50 to be triggered" the judgement meant the government would have to give MPs "some basic terms on which they are going to negotiate Brexit".For Labour, shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said that while she thought "that in the end Parliament will vote for Article 50 to be triggered" the judgement meant the government would have to give MPs "some basic terms on which they are going to negotiate Brexit".
And Conservative peer Lady Wheatcroft told BBC Radio 4's Today she was willing to table an amendment to future legislation to delay the Brexit process, saying it was "only right to delay triggering Article 50 until we have a clearer idea of what it actually entails".
However Labour MP Lisa Nandy told Question Time: "Britain is leaving the EU and whether or not Parliament has to vote to trigger Article 50, this will happen because, in reality, there are no more than a handful of parliamentarians who would seek to block that decision."
The prime minister's spokeswoman has played down suggestions that Mrs May may call an early general election if she cannot get Parliamentary support, saying that the prime minister believed "there shouldn't be an election until 2020 and that remains her view".The prime minister's spokeswoman has played down suggestions that Mrs May may call an early general election if she cannot get Parliamentary support, saying that the prime minister believed "there shouldn't be an election until 2020 and that remains her view".
The government had argued it could use ancient prerogative powers to give effect "to the will of the people". The government had argued it could use ancient prerogative powers to give effect "to the will of the people" but the three judges looking at the case found there was no constitutional convention of the royal prerogative being used in legislation relating to the EU.
'Line crossed'
But the three judges looking at the case found there was no constitutional convention of the royal prerogative being used in legislation relating to the EU.
They added that triggering Article 50 would fundamentally change UK people's rights - and that the government cannot change or do away with rights under UK law unless Parliament gives it authority to do so.They added that triggering Article 50 would fundamentally change UK people's rights - and that the government cannot change or do away with rights under UK law unless Parliament gives it authority to do so.
Speaking to the BBC's Daily Politics, UKIP leadership contender Suzanne Evans said the line was being crossed by "increasingly politically active" judges.Speaking to the BBC's Daily Politics, UKIP leadership contender Suzanne Evans said the line was being crossed by "increasingly politically active" judges.
"Judges are allowing pressure groups and campaigners to bring cases for judicial review and making rulings which would not stand up to scrutiny at the ballot box," she said."Judges are allowing pressure groups and campaigners to bring cases for judicial review and making rulings which would not stand up to scrutiny at the ballot box," she said.
The UK voted by 52% to 48% to leave the European Union in a referendum on 23 June.The UK voted by 52% to 48% to leave the European Union in a referendum on 23 June.
The EU's other 27 member states have said negotiations about the terms of the UK's exit - due to last two years - cannot begin until Article 50 has been invoked.The EU's other 27 member states have said negotiations about the terms of the UK's exit - due to last two years - cannot begin until Article 50 has been invoked.
What questions do you have about the Article 50 High Court ruling?What questions do you have about the Article 50 High Court ruling?