The United Kingdom Supreme Court ruled that British Prime Minister Theresa May must obtain parliamentary approval in order to begin exit negotiations with the European Union, the BBC reports.
However, the court ruled approval from the Scottish Parliament and Welsh and Northern Ireland assemblies is not necessary. The majority of voters in Scotland and Northern Ireland supported remaining in the EU during last year’s Brexit referendum.
A bill that would trigger article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty — formally launching Brexit talks — is expected to be introduced Thursday and quickly pass Britain’s House of Commons. May is planning a “hard Brexit” in which the UK would split from the EU politically and economically.
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