Parliament must vote on whether the UK can start the process of leaving the EU, the High Court has ruled.
This means the government cannot trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty - beginning formal exit negotiations with the EU - on its own.
Theresa May says the referendum - and existing ministerial powers - mean MPs do not need to vote, but campaigners called this unconstitutional.
The government is appealing, with a further hearing expected next month.
- Rolling reaction to Article 50 court ruling
- Kuenssberg: Will this mean early election?
- The High Court's judgement in full
- Brexit: All you need to know
A statement is to be made to MPs on Monday but the prime minister's official spokesman said the government had "no intention of letting" the judgement "derail Article 50 or the timetable we have set out. We are determined to continue with our plan".
Plebiscites only count when plebes vote the way they're told.
(Score: 2) by quacking duck on Friday November 04 2016, @03:13PM
As opposed to the *billions* that are spent on each US election cycle? Never mind the presidential races, just the congressional ones, so that's billions spent *every two years*.
Not to mention every two years Americans are bombarded with election rhetoric and divisiveness for a solid year or more.
I'll take a not-previously-scheduled, month-long election campaign any day.
(Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Friday November 04 2016, @03:21PM
It leaves you with an interesting conundrum if there's a party you generally agree with except for the one specific issue which is the reason the election is being called. Guess then you have to weigh how much you care about the one issue.
I'm sure the U.S. equivalent would be your normal party calling an election before a vote on abortion.
"Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"