Boris Johnson’s suspension of Parliament ‘unlawful’: UK Supreme Court
London, September 24
In a major setback for Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Britain’s Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled in a historic verdict that his decision to suspend Parliament in the run-up to Brexit was “unlawful”.
Johnson suspended, or prorogued, Parliament for five weeks earlier this month, saying it was to allow for a Queen’s Speech to outline policies of his new government.
However, Opposition MPs and many members of his own Conservative Party had accused him of trying to escape parliamentary scrutiny during a crunch phase ahead of the October 31 Brexit deadline.
Indian-origin anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller had challenged his decision in the UK High Court, which had referred it to the highest court of the country.
“The effect on the fundamentals of our democracy was extreme,” Supreme Court President Lady Brenda Hale said, as she handed down the verdict on Tuesday.
“The decision to advise Her Majesty to prorogue Parliament was unlawful because it had the effect of frustrating or preventing the ability of Parliament to carry out its constitutional functions without reasonable justification,” she said.
She said the unanimous decision of the 11 justices meant that Parliament had not been prorogued — the decision was null and of no effect — and it was for the Speakers of the Commons and Lords to decide what to do next.
The ruling marks a major setback for Johnson, who is currently in the US for the United Nations General Assembly session. He had insisted that courts should not intervene in such political matters.
Downing Street said it was “currently processing the verdict”.
Miller had made history a few years ago by forcing Johnson’s predecessor Theresa May to seek Parliament’s approval before invoking Article 50 which set the clock ticking on Britain’s exit from the European Union (EU) in March 2017.
In reference to her latest legal win, she said: “Today is not a win for any individual or cause. It is a win for Parliamentary sovereignty, the separation of powers and independence of our British courts.
“Crucially, today’s ruling confirms that we are a nation governed by the rule of law — laws that everyone, even the prime minister, are subject to.”
She stressed that the historic judgment meant Parliament is open and was never prorogued. “I urge MPs to get back to work immediately,” she said.
House of Commons Speaker John Bercow welcomed the ruling and said Parliament “must convene without delay”, adding that he would now consult party leaders “as a matter of urgency”.
Johnson being found to have acted unlawfully and stopped Parliament from doing its job without any legal justification marks an extraordinary legal intervention, which is expected to have a far-reaching impact on British politics.
The legal question the Supreme Court judges had to resolve was whether the prime minister’s decision — exploiting residual, royal prerogative powers — was “justiciable” and could consequently be subjected to scrutiny by the courts.
While the England High Court to intervene, a Scottish appeal court had concluded that judges did have legal authority to act.
In a unanimous verdict, the court ruled that Johnson’s decision to prorogue Parliament can be examined by judges, overturning the ruling of the High Court in London. — PTI
