Legal bid seeks to stop Brexit without parliamentary approval

Law firm Mishcon de Reya is taking legal steps to ensure Britain does not trigger Article 50, which begins the process of leaving the European Union, without an Act of Parliament.

Acting on behalf of an anonymous group of clients, lawyers have been in correspondence with government counterparts to seek assurance over the process and plan to pursue it through the courts if they are not satisfied.

Kasra Nouroozi, a Mishcon de Reya partner, said: “We must ensure that the Government follows the correct process to have legal certainty and protect the UK Constitution and the sovereignty of Parliament in these unprecedented circumstances.

“The result of the Referendum is not in doubt, but we need a process that follows UK law to enact it.

“The outcome of the Referendum itself is not legally binding and for the current or future prime minister to invoke Article 50 without the approval of Parliament is unlawful.

“We must make sure this is done properly for the benefit of all UK citizens. Article 50 simply cannot be invoked without a full debate and vote in Parliament.

“Everyone in Britain needs the Government to apply the correct constitutional process and allow Parliament to fulfil its democratic duty which is to take into account the results of the Referendum along with other factors and make the ultimate decision.”

PA