Top EU court hears challenge as critics slam May’s deal

BRUSSELS» The European Union’s highest court on Tuesday began considering whether Great Britain can unilaterally change its mind about leaving the EU, as British Prime Minister Theresa May struggled to contain criticism of her divorce deal from U.K. politicians and U.S. President Donald Trump.

The European Court of Justice is assessing the issue under an accelerated procedure, because Great Britain is due to leave the bloc March 29.

Because Article 50 of the EU treaty of Lisbon dealing with departing members is scant on details — largely because the idea of any country leaving the bloc was considered unlikely — a group of Scottish legislators wants to know whether the U.K. can pull out of the withdrawal procedure on its own.

The case comes as pressure builds from Brexit opponents for a second referendum on the decision to leave the bloc. The court decision is not expected for several weeks and could be dragged out into the new year, close to Great Britain’s departure date.

May is making a blunt appeal to voters and to lawmakers to support her divorce deal, arguing that any alternative would be a jump into the unknown. The Scottish lawmakers want to make clear there is an alternative.

“There is an industrialscale spin operation from the U.K. government to say that this cannot be turned around, this must be gone through,” said Alyn Smith, a Scottish National Party member of the European Parliament who is part of the proceedings. “I do not believe that is the case.”

May insists her Conservative government has no intention of reversing Great Britain’s decision in June 2016 to leave.