John confirms Parliament will “have a role” in triggering Article 50

The formal process of leaving the EU could be triggered using the Royal Prerogative, a power now exercised by the Prime Minister, according to Government minister Oliver Letwin

Government lawyers believe the decision to begin the process of leaving the EU can be made using an executive order from the new Prime Minister, a minister has said.

Cabinet Office minister John Penrose told the Commons Parliament will nonetheless “have a role” in triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, formally starting the process of Brexit.

The House of Commons held a brief debate after an urgent question was filed on how the UK will go about beginning the process of leaving the European Union.

The question, put forward by Labour MP Helen Goodman today, came after Andrea Leadsom dropped out of the Conservative leadership race, clearing the way for Theresa May to be named Britian’s next Prime Minister.

Mr Penrose said that Government lawyers believe triggering Article 50 “is a Royal Prerogative issue”.

He added though that “democratic principles should outrank legal formalities”.

“The Prime Minister has already said Parliament will have a role, and it is clearly right that a decision as momentous as this one must be fully debated and discussed in Parliament,” he said.

He said the “precise details” of those debates had to be agreed, but he suggested there would in fact be many parliamentary discussions on “the timing and different facets of the negotiations”.

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