William Eichler 11 July 2016

Lawyers call for Parliamentary vote on Brexit

The EU referendum vote is merely ‘advisory’ and not legally binding, lawyers say.

More than a 1,000 lawyers have signed a letter to the Prime Minister calling for a Parliamentary vote on whether the UK should remain in the European Union.

The signatories argued the referendum result was influenced by ‘misrepresentations of fact and promises that could not be delivered.’

The country only voted narrowly for Brexit and so, the letter claimed, these ‘misrepresentations’ could have played a ‘decisive or contributory’ role in the outcome.

The 1,054 lawyers who signed the letter in the Independent highlighted the fact there was no threshold set that would need to be reached in order to trigger a British exit from the EU.

‘This is presumably because the result was only advisory,’ they wrote.

The letter concludes by urging the Government to establish a Royal Commission or an equivalent independent body to explore the full impact of a potential Brexit in order to inform a Parliamentary vote.

‘The Parliamentary vote should not take place until the Commission has reported,’ the letter said.

‘In view of the extremely serious constitutional, economic and legal importance of the vote either way, we believe that there should be a free vote in Parliament.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Family Support Worker

Durham County Council
Grade 6 £27,269 - £30,060 (Pay Award Pending)
Do you want to work in an ambitious Local Authority with strong leadership and partnership commitment to Children’s Services? Durham County Council a Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

SENDIASS Support Officer

Durham County Council
Grade 8 £31,586 - £35,235 (Pay Award Pending)
An exciting and rewarding opportunity has arisen within the busy and fast paced SEND Information, Advice, Support Service (SENDIASS). The service has Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Residential Worker

Durham County Council
Grade 7 £29,093 - £32,654 (Pay Award Pending)
Salary
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Team Leader

Durham County Council
Grade 8 £31,586 - £35,235 (Pay Award Pending)
Salary
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Class Teacher

Durham County Council
£31,650- £33,483
Class Teacher MPS 1 -2   £31,650- £33,483 Temporary – required from Monday 1st September 2025 (subject to DBS) until 31st August 2026 25 hours per wee Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner