The opposition Labour Party’s leader Jeremy Corbyn said the High Court ruling “underlines the need for the government to bring its negotiating terms to Parliament without delay.”

And the pound rallied up from its historic low, up about 1% against the US dollar…

…but still down 17% from the Brexit vote.

What happens next?

The government has confirmed it will appeal the decision.

The case will now go to Britain’s Supreme Court, which is likely to hear the case in the first week of December. In an ironic twist, there is also a possibility the Supreme Court could refer the case to the European Court of Justice, which remains the highest court in some situations while the UK is still a member of the EU.

Could this stop Brexit from happening?

Theoretically, yes. That’s because—assuming the government doesn’t win its appeal—a bill to trigger Article 50 will now have to pass through both houses of Parliament; there is a small chance that it might not.

That said, lawyer Joylon Maugham thinks there is ”little or no enthusiasm” in Parliament for rejecting a bill that goes against the wishes of people as expressed by the result of the referendum. There is, however, enthusiasm to scrutinize whether the May’s negotiations with the EU are satisfactory enough before Article 50 is triggered.

Another outcome of this court result, Maugham contends, is the likelihood of a second referendum. Nobody really knows what Brexit means. So the Parliament could add the condition to any Brexit deal the government secures with the EU to be put to vote in a referendum, before deciding to leave the EU for good.

Every outcome from Brexit progressing smoothly to Brexit not happening remains possible. In practice, it would mean the process of Brexit is likely to drag on for a much longer time, with more court cases and drawn-out negotiations soon to come.

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