Brexit opposition very dangerous claims Glyn Davies MP

Glyn Davies, MP for Montgomeryshire, has said that efforts to prevent Theresa May invoking Article 50 and beginning the process of Britain leaving the European Union are constitutionally very dangerous.

It comes after it emerged that about 1,400 people have contributed more than £50,000 to the People's Challenge, which has met its first funding target to prepare a written case for the High Court to oppose Brexit.

Crowd-funding organiser Grahame Pigney insists there is a need to "fight suits with suits" and is seeking to raise a further £100,000 to boost the campaign's legal team in court. Mr Pigney has argued that the Prime Minister needs an Act of Parliament to trigger the two-year process of negotiating the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

Government lawyers advised in July that the royal prerogative can be used to invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which does not require a vote in Parliament. Reports suggest Mrs May is leaning towards this approach.

Mr Davies said that the public believed the vote was to stay or leave the European Union and the result should be respected.

He said: "From day one I have seen solicitors writing articles that looked incredibly cogent but it is a straight forward tactic to delay things and I do not agree with that. I think the prerogative should apply and the Prime Minister should invoke Article 50.

"I think that is what everyone thought they were voting for. Technically a referendum is advisory but all the people who voted thought they were voting for a decision and I think if Theresa May does not invoke Article 50 it would cause outrage, not just throughout Leave voters but quite a few people who voted Remain.

"It would be seen as a constitutional outrage. And if we do have a vote I think Parliament would respect the view of the people so I do not know what the fuss is about."

Mr Davies said he had been shocked at what he sees as a number of people who are not prepared to accept the result of the referendum, and the use of delaying tactics to prevent Britain's exit from the EU.

He said: "I have been surprised by the extent, I can perfectly understand why people who did not vote Remain would be hugely disappointed – I think the other side would have felt the same – but it is reaching the stage now of refusing to accept the view of the people."