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Brexit latest: European Court of Justice rules UK can unilaterally cancel Brexit

Calls were made for the service about millions of already-registered people signed up to vote in the run up to the EU referendum and June's election: AFP/Getty Images
Calls were made for the service about millions of already-registered people signed up to vote in the run up to the EU referendum and June's election: AFP/Getty Images

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled that the UK can cancel Brexit without the need for permission from the 27 other EU member states.

A statement from the Court said: "When a Member State has notified the European Council of its intention to withdraw from the European Union, as the UK has done, that Member state is free to revoke unilaterally that notification."

It added: "That possibility exists for as long as a withdrawal agreement concluded between the EU and that Member State has not entered into force or, if no such agreement has been concluded, for as the two-year period from the date of the notification of the intention to withdraw from the EU, and any possible extension, has not expired."

The court said that a revocation of Article 50 must be decided following a democratic process.

Last week, a senior ECJ official issued a legal opinion stating that the UK can unilaterally revoke its withdrawal from the European Union.

A tweet from the European Court on Thursday confirmed that the ruling would be delivered on December 10.

The ECJ tweeted the ruling today writing online: "UK is free to unilaterally revoke the notification of its intention to withdraw from the EU – Case C-621/18 Wightman"

The ruling comes ahead of a Commons vote on Theresa May’s Brexit deal on Tuesday.

Campaigners had argued that the option of remaining in the EU be clear to parliamentarians making decisions on Britain’s future in regards to the EU.

Theresa May has strongly denied that remaining in the EU is an option.

Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay has also stated that the government will not reverse Article 50.

Theresa May prompted the formal process of the UK leaving the EU in March 2017, when she triggered article 50 of the Treaty on European Union.

The timing of the ruling could be problematic for Mrs May as MPs are due to vote on her deal on Tuesday.

It has been frequently touted as unlikely to pass, while Cabinet ministers have pleaded with her to postpone it amid concerns that failure could bring down the government.