Government shouldn't get to decide this on its own

I was lucky enough to go on holiday last week, using up my remaining days of annual leave with a spot of autumn sunshine in Tenerife.
Hillary ClintonHillary Clinton
Hillary Clinton

It seems news can reach even rooftop sun loungers, with the latest High Court developments on Brexit causing a ripple of speculation amongst the sunbathers.

It wasn’t just the heat-seeking Brits that were talking about it.

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Brexit has become a word used by Spanish, French and German people too, and they seem just as concerned about us leaving the EU and what it’ll mean for the continent and its relationships.

My travelling companion asked me whether the High Court ruling saying Parliament has to vote to trigger Article 50 meant Brexit could be stopped.

Unfortunately for all those who voted to remain in the EU, and the vote Leavers who have now changed their minds, that is not quite the case.

What the debate is here is whether the government can go ahead and trigger Article 50 in March, like prime minister Theresa May clearly wants, or whether Parliament as a whole – Commons and the Lords – has to have its say, whether aye or nay.

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The crux of the matter is the impact this decision has on each and every one of us and that really shouldn’t be something the government gets to decide on its own, even with a direction from a referendum.

To me, it’s a reassuring decision from the High Court judges.

If the whole shooting match is required it’s going to take extra time to agree, meaning only that the inevitable is delayed rather than avoided.

My friend then asked me if Parliament could just vote no and that would be the end of it.

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But again, the British public have spoken, there’s been a clear result, and if Parliament was to ignore such a mandate it would be a mockery of our democracy.

Of course the government is going to appeal the High Court’s ruling, so next month we get to go through it all over again.

And never doubt how much this is concerning our European cousins, even the ones on holiday on the sunloungers in Tenerife.

I’LL BE FOLLOWING SUPER-SIZED SOAP OPERA WITH INTEREST

Meanwhile, across the pond, tomorrow is D-Day for the American people.

Will it be Clinton? Will it be Trump?

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The process of electing a president has been fascinating, not least because of the lack of policy being discussed and the all-out bun fights in the media and on TV debates.

It’ll be a relief when it’s all over and we just have to start dealing with the consequences of who the American people choose to lead them for the next four years.

I think I’ve made my feelings pretty clear – neither of the candidates are particularly brilliant, but Trump seems downright dangerous – and I bet there will still be more revelations to come out.

I’ll be watching this super-sized soap opera with interest.

LONG WAIT IS WORTH IT FOR SUCH A FANTASTIC AND FREE SERVICE

I’ve got to have an MRI on my knee today, following a nasty tear to some ligaments and cartilage that I did way back in February.

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I’d hoped I’d be able to rehab my way back to running without needing the knife, but the knee seems not only resistant to healing, but worryingly happy to tear more on a whim.

I can’t fault the service I’ve been given by the NHS. As soon as I realised, with my physio’s advice, that a proper look in my knee was required, I’ve had appointment after appointment and now, today, the MRI.

I won’t get my results for a couple of weeks. It’s a long old wait and I suppose that’s the price you pay for free care. But it’s definitely worth it for such as fantastic service that might ultimately get me back running.