Northern Ireland Brexit

The decision in the Northern Ireland Brexit case (McCord [2016] NIQB 85) delivered on October 28  upheld the government’s contention that the executive could trigger Art.50 to start the process of withdrawal from the EU. But it did so solely on grounds applicable only to Northern Ireland. It specifically reserved for future consideration all the arguments and issues being considered by the English Divisional Court in the case now awaiting judgment (see Michael Zander QC, “Brexit in court”).