News / Foreign Policy

UK to introduce legislation to start Brexit process: Davis

Tuesday, 24 January 2017 4:38 PM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 24 January 2017 6:48 PM ]

British Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (Brexit Secretary) David Davis makes a statement to Members of Parliament in the House of Commons in central London on January 17, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

The UK government will present "straightforward" legislation within days authorizing Britain's exit from the European Union, according to Brexit Secretary David Davis.

Davis told the House of Commons on Tuesday that the UK government would present draft legislation “within days” to begin the process of exiting from the EU and will set out a "straightforward bill to give effect to the decision of the (British) people."

He warned MPs in the lower chamber of parliament that Britons have already voted for leaving the EU and that Brexit must not be delayed.

Davis' comments came hours after the British Supreme Court, the highest court in the country, ruled that Prime Minister Theresa May must seek approval from Parliament before triggering Britain’s exit from the EU.

The court's ruling on Tuesday means that May should wait for the Parliament's green light before invoking the Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, the first step in taking the UK out of the EU.

The judgment could undermine the outcome of last year's historic EU referendum, where nearly 52 percent of Britons voted to end their country's decades-long membership in the 28-nation bloc.

The Supreme Court’s conclusion came days after May laid out her plans for a “clean” Brexit on January 17 and said she would ask for the Parliament’s approval after reaching an agreement with the EU.

Davis said the court's ruling did not affect the fact that Britain will be leaving the EU in line with the result of last year's EU referendum.

“This judgment does not change the fact that the UK will be leaving the EU and it is our job to deliver on the instructions the people of the UK have given us,” Davis said.

“There can be no going back. The point of no return was passed on June 23rd last year,” he added.

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