Theresa May vows to deliver Brexit 'in full' despite legal hurdle

British Prime Minister Theresa Maysaid on Sunday she would deliver a full exit from the EuropeanUnion, hitting back at critics of her Brexit strategy who havethreatened to try to block the process in parliament.

The government's plans to begin a two-year divorce processby the end of March next year were thrown into disarray lastweek when a court ruled that parliament must be consulted on thedecision. May has said she is confident of overturning thatruling.

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Nevertheless, the prospect of a parliamentary vote hasenraged euroskeptic lawmakers who fear the "hard Brexit" theywant will be watered down, and emboldened political opponentswho want a less radical split from the bloc.

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph newspaper, May signalled shewould resist any attempt to force her to change her approach toleaving the EU, a historic break that was approved by 52 per centof Britons in a referendum in June.

"The people made their choice, and did so decisively. It isthe responsibility of the government to get on with the job andto carry out their instruction in full," May wrote.

She said revealing her strategy for the talks would weakenBritain's negotiating position and that members of parliamentwho regretted the referendum result "need to accept what thepeople decided."

The head of Britain's opposition Labour Party, JeremyCorbyn, said in a newspaper interview that he would try to blockthe commencement of divorce talks with the EU if the governmentdoes not agree to his Brexit demands.

May's government, which has given little away about itsplans for Britain's future relationship with the EU, has saidthat having to set out a detailed negotiating strategy toparliament would put it at a disadvantage in the talks.

"While others seek to tie our negotiating hands, the government will get on with the job of delivering the decisionof the British people," May said in a separate statement beforeleaving on a trade visit to India on Sunday.

Growing movementfor 'half-Brexit'

Arch-euroskeptic Nigel Farage, who led the influential U.K. Independence Party's Brexit campaign, said there was a growingmovement to keep Britain within the EU's tariff-free singlemarket a scenario he called a "half-Brexit" that went againstthe referendum result.

"If the people in this country think that they're going tobe cheated, they're going to be betrayed, then we will seepolitical anger the likes of which none of us in our lifetimeshave ever witnessed in this country," he told the BBC.

Parliament could in theory block Brexit because most memberssupported staying in the EU in June's referendum. But many legislators have signalled they would be willing to reverse theirposition to reflect the referendum result.

MPs seem likely to support Article 50

"I think it is highly unlikely that parliament would not, inthe end, back a decision to trigger Article 50," health ministerJeremy Hunt told the BBC, referring to the EU treaty mechanismfor beginning the process of leaving.

Last week's court ruling could allow legislatorsto temper thegovernment's approach, however, making a "hard Brexit" wheretight controls on immigration get priority over remaining in thesingle market less likely.

Corbyn told the Sunday Mirror that Labour's "Brexit bottomline" would require guarantees for access to the single marketfor exporters, continued protection of workers' rights,safeguards for consumers and the environment, and pledges thatBritain would make up any loss of EU capital investment.

Labour deputy leader notadvocatingdelay

Labour's deputy leader, Tom Watson, later appeared tocontradict Corbyn, saying the party had no intention of delayingthe exit process.

"We want to make sure that people don't lose out in thesolution, but we are certainly not going to hold up Article 50if we don't get the deal," he told BBC Radio.

Corbyn said he would welcome an early national election ifMay refusesto meet his demands. But the next one is not dueuntil 2020, and the government has so far resisted pressure todissolve parliament and seek a stronger mandate.

Appeal of ruling expected next month

"I think a general election is frankly the last thing thatthe government wants ... It's the last thing that the Britishpeople want," Hunt said.

A government appeal against the High Court ruling isexpected to be considered by Britain's Supreme Court early nextmonth. May has said she still plans to invoke Article 50 by theend of March.

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The lead claimant in the High Court case, Gina Miller, saidon Sunday that Scotland which voted to remain in the EU in thereferendum was likely to join the case as it goes to theSupreme Court. However, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeonsaid it had not yet decided to take part.