Theresa May to tell Jean-Claude Juncker Brexit plans not derailed by court ruling

UK Prime Minister Theresa May is expected to tell the European Commission's President, Jean-Claude Juncker, her Brexit timetable will not be derailed by the High Court's Article 50 ruling.

Three judges at the High Court ruled on Thursday that Theresa May cannot invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon treaty and trigger the process of formally leaving the European Union without Parliament's support.

However, the BBC said that May will tell Juncker she still intends to start the process by March, according to its sources.

The Prime Minister is set speak by phone Juncker today, outlining her commitment, and Downing Street indicated that she is also hoping to talk with European Council president Donald Tusk and leaders of some of the other 27 member states.

But the uncertainty created by the High Court judgment was underlined by Tory former chancellor and fervent pro-European Ken Clarke, who said he would move to block invoking Article 50, saying: "I will vote against it. I shall stick to my guns. I'm not going to cast a hypocritical vote."

The Supreme Court is expected to hear the government's appeal next month, but with the largely pro-EU Commons in the Brexit driving seat pending the appeal, interim Ukip leader Nigel Farage called on May to call a snap general election, even though he said such a move would face stiff opposition from Tory and Labour benches alike.

If the UK government loses in the Supreme Court, it will have to publish some form of new law for MPs, and the House of Lords, to vote on, according to the BBC. MPs could then push to set the terms for negotiating withdrawal and it could face further delays in the Lords.