The Supreme Court has ruled that Parliament must be given a vote before Article 50 is triggered and Britain formally begins the process of leaving the European Union.

David Davis, the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, is expected to make a statement in the Commons within hours after the Government lost its appeal

Downing Street has for weeks been preparing for the result and is understood to have drafted a short Bill which it believes will not face scores of amendments from Remain-supporting backbenchers.