‘THE goverment’s priority at every stage following the European Union referendum has been to respect the outcome of that referendum and to ensure it is delivered on,’ Tory Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, David Davis said in a statement to parliament yesterday.
‘To leave the European Union was a decision of the British people. It was taken after a six-to-one vote to put that decision in their hands. As the government told the voters, “this is your decision, the government will implement what you decide, no ifs, no buts.”
‘There can be no going back, the point of no return was passed on June 23rd.’
He then went over the extraordinary decision of the High Court to pit Parliament against the People. The court ruled that the government has not got the power to trigger Article 50 to leave the EU and that it is Parliament that must decide when to trigger it, and whether to trigger it at all.
Davis said: ‘A legal action was taken against the government on the proper process for triggering Article 50. We have always been of the clear view this is a matter for the government, that it is constitutionally proper and lawful to give effect to the referendum result by the use of prerogative powers.
‘As I have said, the basis on which the referendum was held is that the government would give effect to the result of that referendum, that was the basis on which people were asked to vote.’
He went on to say that the High Court did not agree with the government and the government will now appeal their decision. Keir Starmer, shadow Brexit secretary, put the Labour Party’s position: ‘On Thursday the High Court ruled that the Prime Minister is acting unlawfully in seeking to use prerogative powers to invoke Article 50.
‘The court had to remind the Prime Minister that only Parliament can make and repeal laws. It is because the Prime Minister is seeking to use prerogative powers to change the European Communities Act that the judgement went against her. Only Parliament can do that. And as the court had to make clear to the Prime Minister, when it comes to legislation, Parliament is sovereign.’
It was raised that the House of Commons should put a motion agreeing to activate Article 50, that would go before the House of Commons and the House of Lords and could be completed in a day. The government’s response was that such a move would have to await the result of its appeal to the Supreme Court.
• Meanwhile yesterday ex-UKIP leader Nigel Farage said that the party would organise a mass demonstration of 100,000 to the Supreme Court on the day that the appeal was due to be heard.
