What’s at Stake in the Brexit Court Ruling: QuickTake Q&A
Darling: U.K. Parliament Should Debate Brexit Position
On Thursday at 10 a.m., three senior judges in London will publish their decision on whether Prime Minister Theresa May can begin Britain’s exit from the European Union without permission from Parliament. Defeat for May would mean her fellow lawmakers, who were overwhelmingly pro-EU before the June 23 referendum, get to vote on her plan before she triggers Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty by the end of March. With a slim majority in the House of Commons and none in the House of Lords, the process could be delayed by more than a year as lawmakers squabble over the details.
At the heart of the challenge is who has the power to execute the will of the people; Parliament or the prime minister. Rarely have British judges been asked to resolve such a politically charged question. David Pannick, the attorney leading the challenge, argued the referendum wasn’t legally binding because it was "advisory," so Parliament must authorize any departure from the EU.