LONDON (AA) - Britain’s government has lost a landmark legal battle over whether it has the power to trigger the U.K.’s exit from the European Union.
Judges at the High Court in London ruled Wednesday morning that the parliament must be consulted before the U.K. can trigger Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon, the formal mechanism for leaving the European Union.
The government had argued June’s referendum, in which voters opted to leave by a 52-48 percent margin, was sufficient to commence exit negotiations.
The verdict is expected to be challenged at the U.K. Supreme Court.