Video
Supreme Court in damning verdict against Boris Johnson’s government
Gina Miller reacts outside the Supreme Court in London, where judges have ruled that Boris Johnson's advice to the Queen to suspend parliament for five weeks was unlawful. Photograph: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire. - Credit: PA
Eleven Supreme Court justices have found in favour of a Scottish court that ruled Boris Johnson's prorogation of parliament was unlawful.
Having decided unanimously that it is indeed within the power of the courts to intervene, the judges then ruled that the prime minister was acting unlawfully when he advised the Queen to prorogue parliament.
Supreme Court president Lady Hale said: "This was not a normal prorogation."
She added: "This prolonged suspension of parliamentary democracy took place in quite exceptional circumstances ... the effect on the fundamentals of our democracy was extreme."
She continued: "The court is bound to conclude therefore that the decision to advise the Queen to prorogue parliament was unlawful."
You may also want to watch:
She concluded that the prorogation was "unlawful, void and of no effect".
MORE: John Bercow: Parliament must convene 'without delay' after Supreme Court ruling
The ruling sides with the litigants' claim that the prorogation was deliberately in order to frustrate the will of parliament, which has blocked Boris Johnson's approach to leaving the EU on October 31 at all costs - including without a withdrawal agreement with the EU.
Most Read
- 1 Russell Kane: Why working class people like Boris Johnson
- 2 The biggest scandal may be that no rules were broken
- 3 BBC journalist admits being 'haunted' by fear broadcaster 'built up' Nigel Farage and UKIP
- 4 Welsh government takes Westminster to court over post-Brexit bill
- 5 A chapter is over for Britain, for good or ill
- 6 Prosecution threat for Tories' co-chairman
- 7 Alan Duncan should have spoken out sooner about Boris Johnson
- 8 Ulster Unionism's crisis of faith
- 9 EU president faces fresh calls to resign over 'disastrous' Covid vaccine programme
- 10 Boris Johnson proposes saving United Kingdom with 'Project Love' plan
But the ruling means that the Speaker must now decide what to do next, and may take immediate steps to decide to reopen parliament.
Johnson, who is currently abroad at a UN summit, has not said whether or not he will resign at the verdict.
He also did not guarantee whether or not he would attempt a second prorogation.
The case is a second resounding victory for litigant Gina Miller, who last year won a case declaring that the government's decision to revoke Article 50 must be put to a vote in parliament.
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.
