Video
Court hearing could decide if Boris Johnson is jailed for no-deal Brexit
Boris Johnson in front of a 'get Brexit done' screen. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA Wire. - Credit: PA
A date has been set for the hearing of a case in Scotland's highest court which could decide if Boris Johnson can be imprisoned for pursuing a no-deal Brexit.
The case, which has been brought forward by English lawyer Jo Maugham, businessman Dale Vince and SNP MP Jonna Cherry, looks set to take place on Friday 4th October.
The three of them are petitioning the court to consider fining or imprisonining the prime minister if he disregards the "safeguard act" - referred to as the Benn act - which requires him to seek a Brexit extension.
It is running alongside another case from Maugham, Vince and Cherry which is asking the courts to sign a letter to the European leaders requesting the extension in the event Boris Johnson fails to do so.
Lord Pentland has asked the government to give a response to the petitioners within 48 hours before a court hearing on Friday at 11am.
You may also want to watch:
A separate hearing will take place in the Inner House of the Court of Session next week.
Dale Vince, speaking to The New European, last month said he was spurred to launch the legal action in response to the threat of a no-deal Brexit.
"It's just so wrong, isn't it," he said. "The impacts would be severe, people may lose their lives over it - certainly there would be great hardship ... there would be enormous impact on our economy. Not to mention the blight on the future of the young people of this country.
Most Read
- 1 Government scraps Pick for Britain programme after Brits fill as few as 5% of roles
- 2 Boris Johnson still has questions to answer about Caribbean holiday
- 3 Ex-minister says Boris Johnson's government is a 'cesspit' where 'almost nobody' tells the truth
- 4 Poll: Laurence Fox in joint last place with Count Binface in race for London mayor
- 5 James Dyson moves main address back to the UK
- 6 Russell Kane: Why working class people like Boris Johnson
- 7 Government to dissolve parliament ahead of Queen’s Speech
- 8 Salmon industry insist officials miscalculated post-Brexit export figures
- 9 Brexit regret: Meet the Leave voters who wish they hadn't voted Leave
- 10 Keir Starmer's day will come
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.
