Scotland and Wales governments allowed to intervene in Brexit trigger court battle

Both the Scottish and Welsh governments will be able to legally intervene over how Britain formally leaves the EU.

A Supreme Court judgement on Tuesday ruled that both governments will be able to pitch in to the court battle over how Brexit is triggered.

Currently, the UK government is appealing a High Court ruling that Theresa May must seek MPs' approval to start the process of exiting the European bloc.

Counsel for the Scottish government is being invited by the Supreme Court justices to address the court on the relevance of points of Scots law so far as they do not form part of the law of England and Wales.

The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain, which describes itself as "fighting for the rights and welfare of some of the most vulnerable and under-represented workers in the UK", has also been given permission to make submissions to the court.

The Attorney General for Northern Ireland has made a reference to the court on devolution issues and did not need permission to intervene.

The historic legal challenge over Brexit was brought by investment fund manager and philanthropist Gina Miller and Deir Dos Santos, a hairdresser, with other "concerned citizens".

Three senior High Court judges ruled that the Prime Minister does not have power to use the royal prerogative to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty to start the two-year process of negotiating Brexit without the prior authority of Parliament.

Mrs May and her ministers are now asking the Supreme Court to overturn that unanimous decision - an appeal to be heard between December 5 and 8.