Dates confirmed for Supreme Court article 50 hearing

The UK Supreme Court will sit from 5-8 December to hear the UK Government’s appeal against the High Court’s decision of 3 November, holding that Parliament has to approve the giving of notice of withdrawal from the European Union under article 50 of the Treaty of European Union, the court confirmed today.

Formal notification of the Government's intention to appeal has been received by the court, and permission to appeal granted by a panel consisting of the President Lord Neuberger, Lord Mance and Lord Kerr.

The exact number of days and timings for the appeal will depend on further submissions received from the parties on the precise legal arguments to be considered, the number of interveners and whether any other related cases are joined to this one. The Scottish and Welsh Governments have both confirmed their intention to seek permission to intervene, and the case is expected to be heard along with an appeal from Northern Ireland raising issues regarding the Good Friday Agreement and the devolution settlement there.

For the first time ever, all 11 Justices will sit on the panel considering this appeal, which will be chaired by Lord Neuberger.

The court will sit in its largest courtroom, and also make available a live video feed in the other two courtrooms in the building to enable as many members of the public as possible to observe proceedings. In additin, as with all Supreme Court proceedings, the appeal will be live streamed on the court's website.

Judgment will be reserved and will follow at a later date, probably in the new year.