More than 1,000 barristers led by Philip Kolvin QC have called on the prime minister not to invoke Art 50 until MPs have been given a free vote on an Act of Parliament.
The barristers made the call in a letter sent to the PM and all MPs this week.
The signatories state that, while the EU referendum result must be acknowledged, it should be considered along with other factors. MPs should, they urge, take into consideration the special positions of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Gibraltar, whose populations voted to remain in the EU. The barristers urge MPs to consider objective evidence of the costs, benefits and risks of departure, and to take account of what the UK hopes to achieve from negotiations.
Aidan O’Neill QC, of Matrix Chambers, says: “The Brexit referendum has made clear that the UK is not a united nation-state, but a divided state of nations.
“If the UK is to survive the result of this vote, a consensus needs to be built up about the way forward. Fully informed discussions and deliberations within and between our Parliaments is the only proper constitutional way to achieve this. Precipitate or unilateral action by the UK government to trigger Article 50 TEU will simply further divide us.”
Philip Kolvin QC, Cornerstone Barristers, says: “MPs are elected to exercise their best judgment on the basis of objective evidence, to safeguard the interests of the country and their constituents for this and future generations.
“At this time of profound constitutional, political and possibly social and economic crisis, we look to them to fulfil the responsibility placed upon them.”
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