Brexit Article 50 Case Saw Some Media 'Undermine Rule Of Law', Lord Neuberger Says

'We were certainly not well treated.'
The president of the Supreme Court has issued a veiled warning to the Daily Mail and other media
The president of the Supreme Court has issued a veiled warning to the Daily Mail and other media
Ian Nicholson/PA Archive

The president of the Supreme Court has issued a veiled warning to the Daily Mail and other media which he said risked “undermining the rule of law” over the Article 50 case.

Lord Neuberger told the BBC: “We were certainly not well treated. I think some of what was said was undermining the rule of law.”

The comments came after The Daily Mail was heavily criticised in November for picturing three High Court judges above the headline: “Enemies Of The People”.

It claimed the “out of touch” judges had “defied” 17.4m Brexit voters by ruling in favour of a challenge to allow Parliament a vote on triggering Article 50.

The Daily Mail was heavily criticised for this front page following a divisional hearing at the High Court last year
The Daily Mail was heavily criticised for this front page following a divisional hearing at the High Court last year
Daily Mail

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Lord Neuberger also claimed politicians could have been “quicker and clearer” in defending the judiciary after the High Court ruling that Theresa May did not have the power to start the Brexit process without the consent of Parliament.

The High Court’s ruling led to sharp criticism of the three judges involved from Eurosceptic newspapers, and Lord Chancellor Liz Truss came under fire for failing to speak out quickly enough to defend them.

Lord Neuberger and his colleagues at the Supreme Court rejected a Government appeal against the ruling last month.

Lord Neuberger and his colleagues at the Supreme Court rejected a Government appeal against the ruling last month
Lord Neuberger and his colleagues at the Supreme Court rejected a Government appeal against the ruling last month
John Stillwell/PA Archive

Read the transcript, below.

Lord Chancellor Liz Truss came under fire for failing to speak out quickly enough to defend them
Lord Chancellor Liz Truss came under fire for failing to speak out quickly enough to defend them
Ben Birchall/PA Wire

Lord Neuberger, who is due to retire later this year, was speaking as the process was launched to appoint new judges to the Supreme Court, including his successor as president.

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