Brexit legal challenge: Theresa May vows to continue EU withdrawal plans following court defeat

Prime Minister vows to continue EU withdrawal plans despite High Court ruling against Governmen'ts Brexit plans

Theresa May at 10 Downing Street (REUTERS)

Theresa May has vowed to continue Brexit plans, following a High Court ruling which saw judges side with anti-Brexit campaigners against the Government.

Breaking her silence since the judgment which was announced on Thursday, the Prime Minister insisted the Government must “get on with the job” of withdrawing the UK from the European Union.

She issued the plea in a column for The Sunday Telegraph, writing: “Parliament voted to put the decision about our membership of the EU in the hands of the British people. The people made their choice, and did so decisively. It is the responsibility of the government to get on with the job and to carry out their instruction in full.”

Ms May added :“MPs and peers who regret the referendum result need to accept what the people decided.”

A coalition of anti-Brexit campaigners took a case against the Government, arguing Ms May cannot trigger Article 50 without consulting parliament. Their lawyers told the court, that constitutional law establishes that only parliament can take away rights of British citizens, and some rights would be lost upon losing EU citizenship, MPs must vote on whether to trigger Article 50 in order to begin Brexit's formal processes. The High Court backed the challengers and sided against the Government.

Conservative MP Stephen Phillips announced he is standing down over how he feels Ms May has handled the issue, saying he has “irreconcilable differences” with the Prime Minister.

The Government has stated it will appeal the decision. It is expected the Supreme Court will hear the case on 7-8 December.