This week saw the final judgement
by the Supreme Court on the contentious issue of whether the decision that was
taken directly by the country in the EU referendum last June must now be put to
a separate vote of parliament to approve commencing exit negotiations.
The Judges were divided but, on balance, decided that parliament needed
another vote. It is a disappointing decision on one level because all
sorts of democratic rights have been eroded by Brussels regulations and court
judgements over the years and no one seemed to challenge these. However,
we have to accept the decision of the court and, in practice, it is just a
technical issue which makes no material difference.
Parliament has already held dozens of different debates on
the issue of leaving the EU and the policies that will come after.
It has been invigorating for our democracy
to be able to discuss new policies again in the knowledge that soon we will
regain the power to fully govern ourselves.
Last week, the Prime Minister set
out her plan for Brexit in a landmark speech. As she said, we must now put the
campaign behind us and unite the country. The PM made it clear that she
wants us to put in place a close partnership with the EU based on friendship
and cooperation, and that the UK must be a generous and outward looking country
that is a good global citizen. But as we establish the rule of national
law in this country, we must bring to an end the jurisdiction of the European
Court of Justice in Britain.
Our future relationship with the EU will include
co-operating with our European partners in the fight against crime and
terrorism. We will also collaborate on initiatives in areas such as science,
research and technology. However, there will be no EU auditors telling us what
to do. In areas such as farming, we will be able to pilot new ways of doing
things and deliver the change that British farming craves.
The Prime Minister was clear that we will be stronger,
fairer, more united and more outward looking than ever before. We are leaving
the European Union but we are not leaving Europe.