Court to rule on Brexit on Tuesday

The court will deliver its decision after the British government appealed against a previous High Court ruling that a bill must be passed by parliament before article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty – the EU’s exit clause – may be triggered.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May would prefer to be able to trigger the clause using so-called ‘royal prerogative powers’ and has said she plans to do so by the end of March.

Once it is triggered – consisting of a formal notice being given to the European Council that the UK wants to leave the EU – a negotiation process between the EU and UK may get under way.