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Case
Benn Act
The Prime Minister stated that the UK would leave the EU on 31 October 2019 come what may, statements that could not be reconciled with his clear legal obligations under the Benn Act to request an extension.
Case updates
- 9 October 2019
- 4 October 2019
- 12 September 2019
- 4 August 2019
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Case overview
We asked the Court for an Order requiring the Prime Minister to comply with the Benn Act and ask for an extension and, if he refused, to exercise its nobile officium jurisdiction to ask for the extension itself.
The Government kicked, screamed, and briefed against its obligations. The court, on our petition, kept a watchful eye.
The result was that the Prime Minister eventually, under protest, was forced by law to write a letter asking for an extension of Article 50. The UK did not leave the EU on the day the Prime Minister had promised.