COURT RULES THAT PARLIAMENT MUST APPROVE JUNE REFERENDUM RESULTS
by Sharon Rondeau
(Nov. 4, 2016) — The result of a June referendum in the UK for that country to exit the European Union has been placed on hold by a court which ruled on Thursday that Parliament would have to approve the measure.
The court made its ruling as a result of a lawsuit brought by plaintiffs who claimed that Parliament needed to approve the result of the referendum, which was reported as approximately 52 in favor of leaving (Brexit) vs. 48 wishing to remain in the EU.
Shortly after the vote, then-Prime Minister David Cameron, who had advocated remaining in the EU, resigned, and Theresa May assumed the position.
May said she will appeal the ruling.
“Brexit” has had an influence on the upcoming U.S. elections on November 8, with one of its leading advocates, NIgel Farage, campaigning with Republican presidential nominee Donald J. Trump, calling him “the new Ronald Reagan.” For his own part, Trump tweeted in August, “They will soon be calling me MR. BREXIT!”
The “Brexit” movement has come to symbolize the reaffirmation of national sovereignty and, for the UK, its becoming a “global” force of its own outside of the European Union, which was formed in the 1970s.
Prior to the referendum, Barack Obama had voiced his support for the “remain” contingent, suggesting that if the “leave” proponents were to succeed, it “would put UK ‘back of the queue’ for trade talks.”