Attorney General says Article 50 case an attempt to invalidate Brexit vote

UK's Attorney General, Jeremy Wright QC MP, has told a court that a legal challenge relating to Brexit is an attempt to overturn the 23 June referendum's outcome for the country to quit the European Union.

The UK's non-binding referendum saw the leave camp win with 51.9% of the vote, while the remain side accrued 48.1%. Turnout was 72.2% of the 46.5m-strong electorate. It has sparked political and financial markets turmoil.

Speaking at the Royal Courts of Justice, Wright said that if parliament was used for a new law ahead of the government enacting Article 50, the decision on EU membership would be parliament's, not that of the UK public at large.

"If we submit parliament is to decide that, then it must be deciding whether to withdraw from the EU at all," said Wright, speaking as one of the government's lawyers.

The case began in the High Court on Thursday last week.

It has been brought to decide whether or not legislation needs to be in place before the Theresa May-led Tory government can enact Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.

The case centres on the use of Royal Prerogative.