Theresa May faces calls for early general election as Brexit plan left in ruins
Ruling hailed as 'the chance to say no to an irresponsible hard Brexit that risks our economy and our jobs'
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Theresa May’s plans for triggering Brexit were plunged into chaos today by a sensational High Court judgment that she cannot bypass Parliament.
In a decision that forced Ms May to insist she would not call an early election, three judges ruled the Prime Minister does not have the right to use the Royal Prerogative to invoke the Article 50 notice to leave the EU without involving MPs and peers.
The extraordinary development throws into confusion whether Ms May can stick to her timetable to trigger Article 50 by the end of March – and leave the EU by spring 2019.
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Nigel Farage hints at revolution if parliament blocks Brexit
On a turbulent day for Theresa May that was branded by many, including leaders in Europe as "humiliating", Downing Street had to dismiss talk of an early general election.
In other developments over the course of a remarkable day:
Theresa May told European leaders that the setback will not derail her plan to begin Brexit talks by the end of March 2017
The Government admitted that an Act of Parliament is likely to be needed to trigger Article 50
It was confirmed the Government would take the ruling to the Supreme Court
Bookies slashed the odds on Brexit not happening
The decision led to a sharp spike in both the pound and the FTSE 250
European leaders responded by calling it a 'humiliation' for the PM
A poll showed the majority of voters would now vote for Remain
Nigel Farage warned of revolution if Parliament tried to block Brexit
If the judgment leads to the Government being forced to push a Bill through Parliament – with numerous chances for it to be amended - there is thought to be virtually no chance of that timetable being achieved.
The Government immediately confirmed it would challenge the ruling at the Supreme Court – probably on December 7 – with speculation the case could end up at the European Court of Justice.
Later, Downing Street moved to dismiss talk of an early general election. With just a narrow majority in the House of Commons and most MPs having backed Remain the ruling by the court presents a new hurdle to the PM – who would be far from certain to get Article 50 through.
However, asked about the possibility of an early election to shore up the Conservatives’ majority, the Prime Minister's official spokesperson said: “No. Our position has been clear that there shouldn’t be an election until 2020 – and that remains the Prime Minister’s view.”
Current polls suggest Ms May would be returned to office with a significantly increased majority as Labour flounders on some of its lowest poll ratings in recent history.
On a remarkable morning, the pound immediately surged on the news, as the markets judged it would make it more difficult – at the very least – for Ms May to pursue a so-called ‘hard Brexit.
And Ladbrokes slashed the odds on a snap general election next year to 2-1, amid a belief that the Prime Minister will turn to the voters if she runs into an impasse at Parliament.
