Three High Court judges on Thursday 3 November told the Government that the Parliament must vote on whether the UK can start the process of leaving the EU or not. This means the UK Government cannot trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon treaty- beginning formal exit negotiations with the EU-on its own.
Theresa May had reportedly said that the Referendum result itself is binding enough and the MPs do not need to vote separately, but the campaigners led by Gina Miller called that unconstitutional.
Born in Guyana but raised in Britain, Gina Miller is the founder and chairman of Miller Philanthropy, which she launched with her husband Alan. She is also an investment manager for SCM Private, which she co-founded in 2014. The couple also launched the True and Fair Campaign, aimed at cutting ISAs charges and rooting out "dishonesty" in the financial services industry. Miller Philanthropy also has the Goodwill Exchange, a pro bono directory made up of experts, individuals and companies.
The government is appealing the high court’s ruling, with a further hearing expected next month, where the campaigners have promised to counter-appeal if the case goes to the Supreme Court.
Who are the Supreme Courts judges?
The supreme court is made up of 9 justices
The Right Hon Lord Mance, a Supreme Court Justice has over ten years represented the United Kingdom on the Council of Europe's Consultative Council of European Judges. Among other roles he also served in the House of Lords European Union Select Committee, chairing sub-committee E which scrutinises proposals concerning European law and institutions from 2007 to 2009.
The Right Hon Lord Kerr of Tonaghmore, a Supreme Court Justice who has served as Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland from 2004 to 2009, and was the last Lord of Appeal in Ordinary appointed before the creation of The Supreme Court.
The Right Hon Lord Clarke of Stone-cum-Ebony, a Supreme Court Justice has spent 27 years at the bar, specialising in maritime and commercial law, undertaking a wide variety of cases in these areas. He is the first Justice to be appointed directly to The Supreme Court.
The Right Hon Lord Wilson of Culworth, a Supreme Court Justice who had practised almost exclusively in family law after being called to the bar in 1967.
The Right Hon Lord Sumption is a Supreme Court Justice who has practised in all aspects of Commercial, EU and Competition, Public and Constitutional Law.
The Right Hon Lord Reed is one of the two Scottish Supreme Court Justices. After serving as a senior judge in Scotland for 13 years he sat as an ad hoc judge of the European Court of Human Rights.
The Right Hon Lord Carnwath of Notting Hill, CVO is a Supreme Court Justice. He served as Attorney General to the Prince of Wales from 1988 to 1994. Between 1998 to 2002 he was also Chairman of the Law Commission. Between 2007 and 2012 he was Senior President of Tribunals.
The Right Hon Lord Hughes of Ombersley is a Supreme Court Justice who prior to his appointment to the Supreme Court in 2013 served as a judge of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, as the Vice President of its Criminal Division.
The Right Hon Lord Hodge was appointed in October 2013 as one of the two Scottish Justices of the Supreme Court. Prior to his appointment to the Supreme Court, he was the Scottish Judge in Exchequer Causes and one of the Scottish Intellectual Property Judges. He was also a Judge in the Lands Valuation Appeal Court and a Commercial Judge.
The high court ruling prompted the resignation of Stephen Phillips, the MP for Sleaford & North Hykeham over Theresa May’s handling of Brexit. This follows David Cameron and Zac Goldsmith’s resignation which has slashed the Conservative majority of 14 seats prompting calls for May to call a snap election. However in a comment piece in The Sunday Telegraph Theresa May wrote that while the debate appears to be of the process “in reality this an important principle at stake.” She added ‘The people made their choice; it is the the responsibility of the Government to carry out their instruction in full.’
