Scottish Parliament debating chamber
Can Parliament lead Britain out of the Brexit mess? At the first Prime Minister’s Questions after the referendum, PM David Cameron told parliament that ‘keeping the United Kingdom together is an absolute paramount national interest for our country’. Ironically, EU withdrawal cannot be said to be in the UK’s interest. The next prime minster would be well advised to pay special attention to the different outcome of the referendum in Scotland and Northern Ireland if he or she wishes to keep the UK together.
Constitutionally, the Westminster parliament is the sovereign law-maker of the United Kingdom. It is the sole institution empowered to repeal the European Communities Act 1972, which makes EU law binding in the UK. Parliament also maintains the authority to amend the devolution legislation for Scotland and Northern Ireland, which would be required in the event that the UK withdrew from the EU.
