MP welcomes High Court Article 50 ruling

A local MP's said the final word on Brexit should always have been with MPs.

South Down's Margaret Ritchie was speaking after yesterday's high court ruling.
A London judge ruled against Britain's EU exit without a Parliamentary vote.
The government's to appeal the decision in the Supreme Court.
Mrs Ritchie told Q Radio she's delighted with the ruling.

She says the court has recognised the 'sovereignty of Parliament', "This debate in Parliament is about saying that the Prime Minister had not got the right to forge ahead and invoke Article 50; that Parliament had a role, that Parliament had a right to debate the issue and Parliament has a right to debate the issue."

Mrs Ritchie added, "The referendum as per the legislation last year was it's simply advisory and not binding. So therefore it should have come to Parliament and I am glad and I hope that the Supreme Court will agree with the High Court judges in relation to this matter."

Newry TUV councillor Henry Reilly says although the ruling is a surprise, it doesn't change the referendum result. "Obviously for me who wants this issue sorted out quickly it is disappointed."

He added, "At the end of the day I'm still confident that we will leave the European Union, that Article 50 will be triggered, it's just going to be a bumpier ride than I thought."