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London - The UK government shouldn’t trigger the process of withdrawing from the European Union without parliamentary approval, as acting without the backing of lawmakers would set a “disturbing precedent,” the unelected House of Lords said.
Failure to consult Parliament before invoking Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty would be “constitutionally inappropriate,” the upper chamber’s Constitution Committee said in a report published in London on Tuesday.
It also said that while legally, June’s Brexit referendum was only advisory, the government has a commitment, outlined in the Conservative Party’s election program, to implement the result.
“Our constitution is built on the principle of parliamentary sovereignty and the decision to act following the referendum should be taken by Parliament,” the committee’s chairperson, Ian Lang, said in a statement.
“Parliament and the government will need to work together to ensure that the UK achieves the best possible outcome when it withdraws from the EU. It is therefore important that Parliament plays a key role in scrutinizing the Brexit negotiations once Article 50 is triggered.”
Prime Minister Theresa May is coming under increasing pressure to reveal when she intends to trigger Article 50, which would lead to the UK exiting the EU within two years. May has said she is committed to Brexit but won’t invoke the exit clause before the end of the year.
