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Supreme Court delivers Brexit ruling

The Supreme Court has ruled that the UK Government cannot trigger Article 50, without an act of parliament.

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Plaid seek motion to give Wales a voice in Brexit

The Supreme Court handed down its Brexit ruling this morning. Credit: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire/PA Images

Plaid Cymru are planning on tabling a motion to give the Welsh Assembly a say on triggering Brexit.

Steffan Lewis AM, the party's shadow secretary for external affairs, says Plaid will seek to a Legislative Consent Motion in a bid to allow AMs a say on triggering Article 50. This morning's Supreme Court ruling stated that the UK Government did not have to consult the devolved nations over the issue.

If Assembly Members, as the democratically elected representatives of the people of Wales, are given no opportunity to have a say on the triggering of Article 50, Plaid Cymru will seek to table a Legislative Consent Motion in the National Assembly. It is a simple matter of democracy that the devolved legislatures should have a role in commencing the process of leaving the EU.

The Supreme Court’s ruling that the Sewel Convention does not give rise to a legally enforceable obligation just highlights that the United Kingdom is far from a family of equal nations. We cannot allow the Westminster establishment to choose a Brexit settlement that puts their own interests first.

– Steffan Lewis AM, Plaid Cymru

Mr Lewis added that giving the Assembly a say on triggering the process was a 'simple matter of democracy' and the Prime Minister should expect 'grave constitutional consequences' if Wales did not have a voice.

A legislative consent motion is a vote saying whether or not the Assembly agrees with what the UK Government is planning.

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