‘Paragraph 1 of Art 50 of the Treaty on European Union, governing voluntary withdrawal of a member state from the EU, reads: “Any member state may decide to withdraw from the Union in accordance with its own constitutional requirements.” This right is followed in the next paragraph by an obligation: “A member state which decides to withdraw shall notify the European Council of its intention.” This contribution addresses a single hypothetical scenario, namely, one in which Theresa May triggers Art 50 without prior parliamentary approval, asking: If she did this, would she be acting illegally? Several legal commentators have now offered answers to this question, the majority in the affirmative, and last month a legal action began by which the claimants wish to enjoin May from so acting. Thus the judges will have the final say. But which judges?’
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 16th August 2016
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
