Brexit challenger Gina Miller: Supreme Court ruling proves 'No PM is unanswerable'
Gina Miller says the Supreme Court judgment gives MPs the chance to help the Government choose the "best course".
Tuesday 24 January 2017 18:22, UK
The lead claimant in the Brexit challenge case has said the Supreme Court ruling that MPs must be given a vote on triggering Article 50 proves "no Prime Minister can expect to be unanswerable".
In what is a setback for Theresa May, Britain's most senior judges on Tuesday of Britain's withdrawal from the European Union.
Speaking outside the Supreme Court, lead claimant Gina Miller said the judgment gives MPs the chance to help the Government choose the "best course" in Brexit talks.
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She said: "Only Parliament can grant rights to the British people and only Parliament can take them away.
"No prime minister, no government can expect to be unanswerable or unchallenged. Parliament alone is sovereign."
The businesswoman told Sky News: "My motivation was upholding our constitutional law and ensuring that a government can't put themselves above the law.
"I'm sure that everyone would agree it is only right that Parliament now votes."
Ms Miller also hit out at and said she was "shocked by the levels of personal abuse that I have received…for simply bringing and asking a legitimate question".
The investment fund manager added: "I sincerely hope that going forward that people who stand in positions of power and profile are much quicker in condemning those who cross the lines of common decency and mutual respect."
Downing Street said the ruling "does nothing to change" Mrs May's plans to trigger Article 50 by the end of March.
Brexit Secretary David Davis announced "within days" which will be put before MPs in the House of Commons and peers in the House of Lords.
Labour's Hilary Benn, head of the Brexit select Committee, said he had "little doubt" Parliament would vote in favour of triggering Article 50.
He told Sky News: "If you say you respect the outcome of the referendum and the British people have spoken… you have to start the process and Article 50 is the only way to do that."
Mr Benn added: "(This) is not about stopping us leaving the European Union - that decision has already been made by the British people in the referendum.
"It is about the terms on which we leave and the new relationship we will have with the other 27 member states once we have left."
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