Britain’s Supreme Court said on Tuesday it has set aside four days starting on December 5 to hear the government’s appeal against a landmark ruling that it must seek parliament’s approval to start the Brexit process.
All 11 Supreme Court judges will hear the case, which could delay Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union, and will deliver their judgement “probably in the new year”, a court statement said.
Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservative government is appealing against a High Court ruling last week that it does not have the executive power alone to trigger Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty, which begins exit negotiations.
The judgement prompted outrage among those who fear that some members of parliament – most of whom wanted to stay in the EU ahead of June’s shock referendum vote to leave – may seek to delay or block Brexit, or ease the terms of the divorce.
Such was the extent of the personal attacks on the judges – branded “Enemies of the People” by one tabloid newspaper – that the justice minister was forced to issue a statement defending the independence of the judiciary.