UK preparing legislation to trigger Brexit: Sky News

[LONDON] The British government is preparing legislation to trigger the procedure to leave the EU, Sky News reported on Monday, despite Prime Minister Theresa May saying she is confident of overturning a court decision that may delay Brexit.

Ms May's plans to start the formal divorce procedure from the European Union by the end of March were dealt a blow last week when England's High Court ruled that her government must seek parliamentary approval for triggering Article 50.

The prime minister is determined to carry out what she calls"the will of the people". Her spokesman declined to comment directly on the report on Monday, saying only that the government was focused on winning its appeal to the Supreme Court next month.

Sky News quoted sources as saying the government was preparing a bill - legislation that will have to be considered in both houses of parliament in what could be a lengthy process.

Ms May's focus on ensuring the government has the lead on breaking with the EU has angered some lawmakers, prompting one of her ruling Conservative party MPs to resign last week and deepening splits laid bare in the June EU referendum.

But while those who campaigned to stay in the European Union hope the court decision will soften the divorce terms for Britain, pro-Brexit campaigners and Britain's eurosceptic newspapers have attacked the judges for what they called a betrayal of the vote.

Ms May's spokesman told reporters that the government had"strong legal arguments" to win at the Supreme Court.

REUTERS