Brexit: High Court rules against government

Drinks Buisness considers the implications for the drinks industry following news today that the High Court has ruled that the UK government cannot trigger Article 50 to spark Brexit on its own. This morning’s ruling comes after a challenge was launched by Gina Miller a London-based investment manager, who argued that Prime Minister Theresa May’s statement that the government could use royal prerogative to trigger Article 50 without the need for MPs in Parliament to vote on the issue, was unconstitutional. Describing the ruling as one of “pure law” the Lord Chief Justice stated that the government did not have the constitutional power to withdraw the UK from the E – however it is uncertain whether a Parliamentary debate would amount to a ratification of the Brexit vote by MPs reluctant to go against the public vote, or a more detailed examination of the legislation involved.