Jan 24 - GSD Reacts To Supreme Court Ruling On Article 50
The GSD has today noted the ruling of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in which it is stated that the United Kingdom Parliament must provide the approval for the Government to trigger the Article 50 notice which would then begin the Brexit negotiation process. The Court also ruled unanimously that the devolved Parliaments of Scotland and Wales did not have to be consulted on the date.
Trevor Hammond, GSD spokesman for European affairs said:
"This ruling by the Supreme Court confirms the decision of the High Court which was taken in December of last year. The verdict, while very important from a legal perspective in establishing the respective powers of Government and Parliament in this instance, will not affect the overall outcome, or even the timeline established by Prime Minister May as Parliament has already taken a vote on this and agreed the 31st of March deadline.
"The challenges that faced Gibraltar prior to this ruling remain unchanged and the GSD remains firmly committed to supporting the Government where it is consulted in decisions and given an opportunity to do so. Parliament has already agreed on the composition of the Brexit select committee and we wait upon Government to convene it in order that these issues, so crucial to the future of our community, can be discussed. The GSD continues to believe that the best solutions for Gibraltar are the simplest, in form at least if not in attainment. That Gibraltar acquire the same rights as the United Kingdom in any future agreements that the United Kingdom makes either with the European Union or outside of it and that the United Kingdom must keep in mind the importance of freedom of movement at our frontier when it is negotiating its own borders policy".
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