BSRIA has responded to this month’s High Court ruling that parliament alone has the power to activate Brexit – casting uncertainty on the timetable for leaving the EU.
The government lost a High Court case challenging its right to trigger Article 50 without a vote in Parliament. However, Government said it would appeal at the Supreme Court and was still committed to generating Article 50 by March.
The EU’s other 27 members have said that negotiations about the terms of the UK’s exit – due to last two years – cannot begin until Article 50 has been invoked.
Julia Evans, Chief Executive, BSRIA, said: “Back on Thursday 23rd June, the country voted and the decision was ‘out’. Today’s High Court ruling now adds a high level of uncertainty and ambiguity into the Brexit proceedings. What industry needs is clear leadership to bring economic confidence and stability forthwith as a plan of action.”
Evans added that BSRIA is calling for “a clear Brexit timetable, not layers of legal hurdles”.
“Much economic indecision had already been evident in the build up to the referendum which was detrimental to our industry. We do not need more.”
Article 50 (of the Lisbon Treaty) is the process of when an EU Member State decides to withdraw and notify the European Council of its intention. The Union negotiates and concludes an agreement with that State, setting out the arrangements for its withdrawal, taking account of the framework for its future relationship with the Union. It is concluded on behalf of the Union by the Council after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament.
BSRIA is a non-profit distributing, member-based association, providing specialist services in construction and building services.