Mediaboss Marketing

The UK has voted for Brexit - and ever since it looked like we would vote Leave, commentators have been talking about Article 50.

Today, Britain's most senior judges ruled Theresa May does not have the power to trigger the formal process for the UK's exit from the European Union without giving MPs a say.

The decision follows a legal challenge by the Government after a landmark High Court ruling in November.

But what exactly is it and what does Article 50 mean for Brexit?

Over half of voters in the EU referendum (51.9%) chose to leave the union, but it is not as simple as just waving goodbye to Europe.

Supreme Court Brexit ruling live: Updates as judges decide MPs WILL get a vote on Article 50

No state has left the European Union before, although Greenland did vote to quit the EEC.

How the UK goes about its conscious uncoupling after its 43 year relationship is governed by Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.

In October, Theresa May told the Conservative Party conference that she planned to trigger Article 50 by the end of March 2017.

But today the High Court put a spanner in the works by ruling the PM does not have the power to start Brexit proceedings without first allowing MPs to vote.

The Treaty of Lisbon, signed in December 2007, is the European Union's most recent constitution - and Article 50 makes provision for countries that want to leave.

It sets out the exit process but is deliberately vague meaning member states could be forced to enter into long negotiations to thrash out the terms of any deal.

Video Unavailable

Click to play Tap to play

Play now

Watch this video again

Video will play in

Immediately after Article 50 is invoked, a two-year window begins during which Britain will be expected to enter talks on plans for its relationship with the rest of the Union post- Brexit .

Topics on the table could include the UK's access to the single market, travel arrangements and what will happen to people from EU countries who are working or living in Britain.

But it's not all smooth sailing all 28 member states have to unanimously agree to the terms of a deal meaning the negotiations could take years.

In the meantime Britain is still bound by the obligations and responsibilities of EU membership.

A senior EU official said: "The Article 50 process is a divorce: who gets the house, who gets the kids, who gets the bank accounts.

"It is spouses, instead of working through lawyers, throwing dishes at each other."

Video Unavailable

Click to play Tap to play

Play now

Watch this video again

Video will play in

In a joint statement issued in July, EU leaders Martin Schulz, Donald Tusk, Mark Rutte and Jean-Claude Juncker said: We now expect the United Kingdom government to give effect to this decision of the British people as soon as possible, however painful that process may be.

We have rules to deal with this in an orderly way.

Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union sets out the procedure to be followed if a Member State decides to leave the European Union.

We stand ready to launch negotiations swiftly with the United Kingdom regarding the terms and conditions of its withdrawal from the European Union.

Until this process of negotiations is over, the United Kingdom remains a member of the European Union, with all the rights and obligations that derive from this.

On November 3, campaigners led by hedge fund manager Gina Miller, won a High Court fight to give MPs a vote on Brexit and derailed Theresa May's plans to invoke Article 50 before March 2017.

The Government announced it will appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. That appeal decision will be revealed today at 9.30am.

At the original decision, three of Englands top judges gave the historic ruling after a costly three-day hearing.

The High Court ruled the Prime Minister did not have the power to trigger two-year exit process Article 50 before a vote in Parliament.

Introducing his judgement, Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas said: This is a pure question of law. The court is not concerned with and does not express any view about the merits of leaving the European Union. That is a political issue.

He added: The court expressly accepts the principle arguments of the claimants. The government does not have the power of prerogative

Mrs May was relying on the royal prerogative - which a team led by investment fund manager Gina Miller said was not enough to ignore elected MPs.

Anti-Brexiters celebrated the news on Twitter - and even some Leave voters are happy about it.

One man admitted he voted Brexit but hoped the decision could 'correct his stupidity'.

Many thanked God for the ruling, claiming that there was finally some "sense" in the chaotic mess which has hung over our country since June.

Others claimed there is at last some "hope".

But not everyone was happy about it.

Nigel Farage, the former UKIP leader who led the Brexit campaign, took to Twitter to say: ""I worry that a betrayal may be near at hand."

Others also claimed that the ruling was a betrayal for the majority who voted.

Video Unavailable

Click to play Tap to play

Play now

Watch this video again

Video will play in

See original here:
What is Article 50 and why is it key to Brexit? - Mirror.co.uk