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ABUSE ARREST

Man arrested on suspicion of racially abusing Gina Miller, the woman behind the Article 50 legal challenge

Gina Miller

A MAN has been arrested over threats made online to Gina Miller, the woman behind the Supreme Court legal challenge to Brexit.

The 55-year old was arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated malicious communications over threats made online to Ms Miller, 51, the millionaire businesswoman who is challenging the Government over how to trigger Article 50.

 Gina Miller arrived at court this morning surrounded by bodyguards
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Gina Miller arrived at court this morning surrounded by bodyguardsCredit: Getty Images

Metropolitan Police officers arrested the man in Swindon on Monday.

He was taken to a Wiltshire police station and later released on bail. Officers said it was one of "several ongoing police operations".

Police also issued a warning on December 3 to a 38-year old man from Fife, Scotland.

 Ms Miller has been subjected to abuse online due to her role in the court case
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Ms Miller has been subjected to abuse online due to her role in the court caseCredit: EPA

Ms Miller has been flanked by bodyguards for the past three days at the Supreme Court hearing as her lawyers made their case.

Police had warned her it wasn't even safe to go outside after she was the victim of malicious attacks and online abuse following last months High Court ruling.

On the first day of the appeal this week, the Supreme Court President, Lord Neuberger, blasted online trolls for abusing her and said that they risked "undermining the rule of law". She said she had had death threats and spend over £60,000 on security.

 Gina Miller says MPs should vote first before triggering Article 50
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Gina Miller says MPs should vote first before triggering Article 50Credit: PA:Press Association

The businesswoman is arguing that the Government has no right to trigger Article 50 without a vote from MPs in Parliament first. But the Government say they have the powers, and that the will of the people in the referendum was enough to start Brexit.

Yesterday the court heard that Scotland and Northern Ireland can’t stop the Government from triggering Article 50 and kicking off Brexit talks.

It also emerged that Theresa May will HAVE to put down a bill in Parliament on Article 50 if the Government loses the Brexit appeal.

Government lawyer James Eadie admitted that it would require “parliamentary legislation” for MPs to declare their support of starting the process of leaving the EU.

Mrs May is fighting to overturn the High Court ruling that she fears could end up delaying Brexit for months.

The judges’ decision last month gave MPs the right to authorise ‘Article 50’ talks to leave the EU.

But Jeremy Wright, the Attorney General, insisted that if the appeal did not succeed, it could also do serious harm to the PM’s negotiating strategy.

The 11 judges will make a decision in the new year.