Theresa May and the Triggering of Article 50

Abstract

Abstract This chapter looks into the early responses of parliament to the referendum result during the early months of Theresa May’s premiership. As the new Prime Minister, May needed to assemble a Cabinet to work on a Brexit strategy, which would be difficult due to the absence of a blueprint and lack of certainty over the government’s decision. However, May struggled to resolve the rifts within the Conservative Party, while parliament’s place in Brexit was highly contested. The chapter discusses the role of MPs’ local representatives in the Brexit debates following dilemmas over prioritization of local constituency opinion, the national referendum result, and personal views. It also looks into parliament’s role in triggering the two-year negotiating period provided by Article 50, its subsequent role in overseeing negotiations with the EU, and its role in approving the final Brexit deal.