Theresa May Will Not Start Brexit This Year

The Prime Minister will not start the formal process of divorcing the EU this year, the High Court has been told.

Government lawyers told judges considering a legal challenge over Brexit that Theresa May had made it clear she did not plan to trigger Article 50 before 2017.

The timetable was set out as a British hairdresser launched his case to try to prevent the Prime Minister starting the formal process of leaving the EU without putting it to the vote in the House of Commons.

Brexit campaigners have urged the Government to get on with it

Lawyers for Deir dos Santos, who is described as just an "ordinary guy", say Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty should not be launched without an Act of Parliament.

His is just one of three cases being brought on the same issue - the law firm Mischon de Reya is bringing another on behalf of a group of clients and a third is expected from investment manager Gina Miller.

The High Court heard how the lawyers had been subjected to hate mail and anti-Semitic abuse since announcing their intentions.

Lord Pannick QC, instructed by Mishcon de Reya, told the court that publicity generated by the case "has provoked a large quantity of abuse directed at my solicitors".

"It is racist abuse, it is anti-Semitic abuse and it is objectionable abuse."

High Court Judge Sir Brian Leveson said the threats were being taken "very seriously" and warned: "The court will be concerned to deal severely with anyone who interferes in the course of this litigation."

Sir Brian said the case would likely leapfrog the High Court and be heard in the Supreme Court "not before the third week" of October.

He said the date would give the court sufficient time to consider the case before the Government considered triggering Article 50.

And added: "It would be extremely distressing if the Government were to say suddenly we'll just do it."

Brexit Secretary David Davis said last week that Article 50 should be triggered "before or by the beginning of next year".

The case, which has been described as the "most important in constitutional history", hinges around the wording in the Lisbon Treaty.

It states: "Any member state may decide to withdraw from the Union in accordance with its own constitutional requirements."

Lawyers say that decision rests with MPs - the representatives of the people.