The Government will introduce a bill on triggering Article 50 “within days”, Brexit Secretary David Davis has said.
Mr Davis told MPs the legislation would be introduced shortly to ensure the Government could stick to its timetable of triggering the process of leaving the European Union by the end of March.
He said the Supreme Court ruling did not affect the fact Britain would be leaving the EU in line with the result of the 2016 referendum, telling MPs: “There can be no turning back.”
“The point of no return was passed on June 23 last year,” he said.
In a historic judgement, the Supreme Court rejected Theresa May’s argument that royal prerogative powers could be used to trigger Article 50 and start the two year process of exiting the European Union.
By a majority of eight to three, judges at the Supreme Court instead ruled that the Government must first seek Parliament’s approval.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Davis said this would be done using “the most straightforward bill possible”.
He said the purpose of the bill would be “simply to give the Government the power to invoke Article 50 and begin the process of leaving the EU”.
Mr David added: "Parliament will rightly scrutinise and debate this legislation but I trust no-one will seek to make it a vehicle for attempts to thwart the will of the people or frustrate or delay the process of exiting the European Union."
"This is not about whether or not the UK should leave the EU. That decision has already been made by the people of the United Kingdom.
"We will work with colleagues in both Houses to ensure this Bill is passed in good time for us to invoke Article 50 by the end of March."
Tory and Labour MPs were not expected to revolt in sufficient numbers to block Article 50. But they plan to amend the legislation to tie Mrs May’s hands.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “Labour will seek to amend the Article 50 Bill to prevent the Conservatives using Brexit to turn Britain into a bargain basement tax haven off the coast of Europe.”
