Thousands have taken to social media with the hashtag #StopFundingHate to urge companies advertising with the Daily Mail to stop in response to the paper’s coverage of Thursday’s high court ruling on Brexit.

Prime Minister Theresa May’s government suffered a blow on Thursday when judges ruled that parliament would need to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty to formally start the UK’s exit from the EU - a decision which has left many Leave supporters furious.

In reaction, British newspapers attacked the judges behind the ruling, suggesting it was a display of judicial independence gone too far.

The opening paragraph is quite possibly the biggest overreaction in newspaper history. pic.twitter.com/VgUj6vr5bW — Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) November 3, 2016

"Do they look evil enough?"



"I was thinking the same."



"Try a blue filter."



"There we go." pic.twitter.com/wk1EChkTzP — Jack Tindale (@JackTindale) November 3, 2016

Stop Funding Hate, a group set up to put pressure on advertisers funding the newspaper, raised concern about the Daily Mail’s “expose” on the “out of touch” judges. The paper branded them “enemies of the state” a day after deriding one as “openly gay.”

In a Facebook post, Stop Funding Hate said it would call out every advertiser featured in the Daily Mail on Friday.

Co-op UK, British Airways, Mercedes Benz, Iceland supermarket, Asda, and Morrisons are among those named. The hashtag soon began trending, with many backing the movement.

Lawyers and legal experts also thought the newspapers’ sentiments were over the top.

This is getting completely out of hand. If The Daily Mail speaks of Judges as enemies of the people, democracy is being undermined. Shame! — Nigel Pascoe QC (@nigel_pascoe) November 3, 2016 Today's a bad day for the constitution

Not because of #Brexit case but attacks on independent judiciary & rule of law pic.twitter.com/f1ohqkGXNi — The CBA (@TheCriminalBar) November 4, 2016 The Family Law Bar Association condemns such utterly irresponsible journalism @DailyMailUKpic.twitter.com/cntaWxTQAa — FLBA (@FamilyLawBar) November 3, 2016

"We want UK judges deciding on UK legal matters!"



- UK judges decide on UK legal matters.



"ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE!" — Law and policy (@Law_and_policy) November 3, 2016

Others labelled the newspapers’ front pages “dangerous” and “irresponsible.”

TOP TIP: Pretend to be your own "Pro Article 50" Judge by making a wig out of sausage rolls and swearing behind a copy of the Daily Mail. — Jack Tindale (@JackTindale) November 4, 2016 "Enemies of the People" headline in the Mail has me livid this morning!



It's irresponsible and dangerous and close to inciting civil unrest — David Armstrong (@tiggtag) November 4, 2016

In August, the Stop Funding Hate campaign ran a similar drive urging brands to pull advertising from the Daily Mail - as well as the Sun and the Express - for their coverage of refugees and migrants. The trio of tabloids was accused of using “fear and division to sell more papers.”