Brexit defeat for uk government over eu citizen rights
You're referring to the significant defeat for the UK government in the Supreme Court over the rights of EU citizens living in the UK.
On January 24, 2017, the UK's Supreme Court ruled that the UK government's decision to trigger Article 50 without first clarifying the rights of EU citizens living in the UK was unlawful. The court's decision was a major blow to the government's plans to leave the EU, and it forced Prime Minister Theresa May to seek parliamentary approval for the triggering of Article 50.
The case, known as R (on the application of Miller and another) v Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, was brought by a group of British citizens who argued that the government's decision to trigger Article 50 without first clarifying the rights of EU citizens living in the UK was unlawful. The court ultimately agreed with the claimants, ruling that the government's decision was "unlawful" and that it had to seek parliamentary approval before triggering Article 50.
The court's decision was a significant setback for the UK government, as it meant that the government would have to seek parliamentary approval for the triggering of Article 50. This approval was eventually granted in March 2017, when the House of Commons voted in favor of the government's motion to trigger Article 50.
The court's decision also had significant implications for the rights of EU citizens living in the UK. The court ruled that EU citizens living in the UK had a "constitutional right" to be protected by the European Court of Justice (ECJ), and that the UK government could not unilaterally withdraw the rights of EU citizens living in the UK without their consent.
The court's decision was widely seen as a major victory for the pro-EU movement in the UK, and it marked a significant turning point in the Brexit process. It highlighted the importance of protecting the rights of EU citizens living in the UK, and it underscored the need for a more nuanced and considered approach to Brexit.
In the aftermath of the court's decision, the UK government was forced to negotiate with the EU to secure the rights of EU citizens living in the UK. The government ultimately agreed to a deal with the EU, known as the "Brexit withdrawal agreement," which guaranteed the rights of EU citizens living in the UK and provided for a transition period during which the UK would remain subject to EU law.
Overall, the Supreme Court's decision was a significant defeat for the UK government, and it marked a major turning point in the Brexit process. It highlighted the importance of protecting the rights of EU citizens living in the UK, and it underscored the need for a more nuanced and considered approach to Brexit.