Leaving the EU

It certainly looks that way if the result of the Brexit court defeat for the UK government is anything to go by.

The High Court has ruled that Parliament must vote on whether the UK can start the process of leaving the EU.

This means the Government cannot trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty – beginning formal exit negotiations with the EU – on its own. The Government is appealing the decision at a Supreme Court hearing expected next month.

17.4 million Brexiteers should be up in arms over this court decision, as should the Remoaner voters if they believe in true democracy.

The people voted in favour of leaving the EU and all political parties in Parliament agreed that the result of the referendum majority vote should be accepted.

It is a long-standing fundamental principle of democracy that he majority vote wins – be it by one vote, or in this case 1.4 million.

If the majority had voted to remain in the EU the Brexit voters would have been given short shrift by them if they had challenged the democratic vote.

They would be told to abide by the majority vote in accordance with long standing tradition – something which they are not doing themselves.

Parliament voted 6 to 1 for the people to decide this referendum issue.

Because the leave result was totally unexpected by David Cameron, we now have the losers trying to overturn the winning vote.

Not only politicians and business leaders but sadly the Judiciary.

I would have thought that they more than anyone would understand and respect the rights and will of the electorate majority.

We now have a case where Remoaner campaigners are placing every obstacle in the way of starting the proposed March 2017 Brexit procedure.

It is a kick in the teeth for the electorate majority, for them via the High Court to say that Parliament must vote on this matter before triggering Article 50.

If they are allowed to get their way, a majority of the approximately 650 members of Parliament could delay the leaving process indefinitely, against the express wishes of the 17.4 million who voted to leave.

They would do so hoping that with all the delay and continued anti-Brexit propaganda, the electorate would become disillusioned and be more likely to vote to remain in a second EU referendum.

I fervently hope that the Supreme Court will uphold the government appeal, and that politicians of all parties, who agreed to accept the referendum decision, will now unite towards achieving the end of March 2017 target for implementing Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.

To ultimately give us back our country and self government, and to enable us to expand current and new trading partnerships with the rest of the world – while subject to negotiation, maintaining a presence in the EU single market.

Cyril Olsen

Busk Meadow. Sheffield, S5