Brexit Commons vote 'could damage EU negotiations'

A High Court ruling forcing Theresa May to put her Brexit plans before parliament could impact on the economy and "damage the fabric of democracy", Jeremy Hunt has said.

The health secretary accused campaigners who brought the case against the government of engaging in "processology" against the result of the referendum.

He said that the UK could be put into a worse negotiating position if the ruling is upheld at an appeal in the Supreme Court expected in January.

"The impact on the economy will be far worse if, through some parliamentary mechanisms, Theresa May is forced to lay out her entire negotiating strategy," he told the Andrew Marr show.

"You have to give the government latitude to make a deal."

He added: "The damage to the fabric of our democracy was far worse if people felt the establishment was trying to unpick a decision that was made."