Theresa May should not trigger article 50 alone – formally starting the UK’s exit from the European Union – without “explicit parliamentary approval”, a parliamentary committee has warned. What is article 50 and why is it so central to the Brexit debate? The government should not trigger article 50 without consulting parliament.”The question of whether parliament or the prime minister has the authority to trigger article 50 is the central issue in the legal challenge against the government to be heard next month. “Parliament should be asked to approve the decision to trigger article 50 – a decision which will start the formal process of the UK leaving the EU and set a deadline for the UK’s exit. “An act of parliament would give greater legal certainty and could be used to enshrine the ‘constitutional requirements’ required by article 50, allowing for the setting of advantageous preconditions regarding the exit negotiations to be met before article 50 could be triggered.

Source: The Guardian September 13, 2016 11:39 UTC