Boris Johnson’s decision to suspend parliament until 14 October was unlawful, the Supreme Court has ruled.
Eleven judges allowed the legality of Boris Johnson’s advice to the Queen to propagation parliament, for what opponents termed as a long period.
The judges found out that Mr. Johnson’s advice was unlawful because it had the effect of frustrating parliament.
It also found the prorogation was “void and of no effect” – meaning parliament hasn’t been suspended.
Lady Hale said: “The court is bound to conclude therefore that the decision to advise Her Majesty to prorogue was unlawful because it had the effect of frustrating or preventing the ability of parliament to carry out its constitutional functions.”
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told his party’s conference in Brighton. “It shows the prime minister has acted unlawfully in shutting down parliament”.
“It demonstrates a sign for democracy and an abuse of power by him,” he added.
Commons Speaker John Bercow said the House must “convene without delay” and that he would be consulting party leaders.
Mr.Boris Johnson insisted the suspension from 9 September was to allow the government to set out a new legislative agenda in a Queen’s Speech when MPs return to parliament.
But those who brought legal challenges accused Boris Johnson of an unlawful “abuse of power”. The prorogation met to prevent parliamentary scrutiny of the UK’s impending exit from the EU on 31 October.
At the High Court in London, the Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett and two other judges rejected a challenge against the PM’s suspension move by businesswoman Gina Miller.
But in Scotland, a cross-party group of MPs won a ruling from the Inner House of the Court of Session. Mr. Johnson’s decision is unlawful because it “motivated by the improper purpose of stymieing parliament”.
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