David Davis: 'Lords and Commons will have to approve Brexit'

Brexit: David Davis says House of Commons and Lords will likely have to approve triggering Article 50
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Saphora Smith3 November 2016
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The Government could be forced to produce a full Act of Parliament in order to trigger Brexit, David Davis has said.

The Brexit Secretary confirmed the Article 50 bill would have to be approved by both the House of Commons and the House of Lords unless the Government can overturn today's High Court ruling.

He said Parliament had already put the decision on leaving the European Union into the hands of voters and MPs and peers should not frustrate that.

A full Act of Parliament requiring the agreement of both the Commons and the Lords could lead to multiple attempts to amend the legislation - causing further difficulties for the Government.

Mr Davis said the result of the referendum "must be respected", adding: "Parliament voted by six to one to give the decision to the people, no ifs or buts, and that's why we are appealing this to get on with delivering the best deal for Britain - that's the best deal for growth, the best deal for investment, the best deal for jobs.

"The people want us to get on with it and that is what we are going to do."

The Cabinet minister said it was not entirely clear exactly what the judgment would mean but it looked as though a full Act of Parliament would be needed.

"The judges have laid out what we can't do and not exactly what we can do, but we are presuming it requires an Act of Parliament, therefore both Commons and Lords," he said.

Mr Davis's comments came after senior Tories urged Theresa May to produce full-blown legislation in order to give MPs extensive opportunities to scrutinise Brexit before she triggers Article 50 and starts the formal two-year countdown to leaving the European Union.

He said: “Parliament is sovereign and has been sovereign but of course the people are sovereign the people are the ones who parliament represents.

“17.4 million of them, the biggest mandate in history, voted for us to leave the European Union we’re going to deliver on that mandate in the best way possible for the British national interest.

“Parliament voted by six to one to give the decision to the people no ifs or buts and that is why we are appealing this to get on with delivering the best deal for Britain.

“That is the best deal for growth, the best deal for investment the best deal for jobs.

“The people want us to get on with it and that is what we intend to do.”

Today's High Court rulling was hailed as a boost for MPs who want a deal that keeps Britain inside Europe’s single market.

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