Published 12:31 IST, September 25th 2019
UK court rules PM Johnson suspended parliament unlawfully
The UK Supreme Court has come up with a verdict on September 24 that Boris' decision to shut down Parliament in the run-up to Brexit was an unlawful attempt.
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The UK Supreme Court has come up with a verdict on September 24, saying that Boris Johnson's decision to shut down Parliament in the run-up to Brexit was an unlawful attempt. The Prime Minister stuck to his decision and vowed that Britain would leave the EU by October 31 under any circumstances. The important judgement was passed by all the 11 sitting judges of the UK Supreme Court. They describe Boris Johnson's term as Prime Minister as a weak hold on power which gives legislators more opportunities to try to stop him taking Britain out of the EU bloc next month, with or without a divorce deal.
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Brenda Hale: The decision to advise the Queen to suspend the Parliament was unlawful
PM Johnson during his visit to New York said the suspension of Parliament was null and void and respects the decision of the appellate body. But he strongly disagreed with enough clarity saying that this issue will make no difference to his Brexit agenda. This Supreme Court ruling is the most important constitutional legal verdict in decades and criticised Johnson's actions. The opposition demanded Johnson reverse the suspension and recall lawmakers to Parliament. Some opposition also wanted Johnson to resign immediately for misleading Queen Elizabeth, who had earlier suspended the Parliament on his advice. Supreme Court President Brenda Hale said the decision to advise the Queen to formally suspend the Parliament was unlawful because it prevents the ability of Parliament to carry out its constitutional functions without any reasonable justifications. The verdict said that Johnson had not given any reason to suspend the Parliament for five weeks which betrayed and affected the British democracy. Hale said the Prime Minister's advice to the Queen was unlawful, void and has no effect. She also added that the Parliament was not suspended and it was up to the speakers of its two chambers to decide what to do next.
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Parliament to resume from Wednesday
The speaker of the House of Commons, the lower and much more powerful chamber, said the Parliament would resume from Wednesday at 11:30 am (1030GMT). Standing with the US President Donald Trump at the UN, he was asked if he would resign but he answered with a simple no. PM Johnson without paying much attention to the landmark judgement said he respects the judges and frequently kept saying that according to the law, Britain is due to exit EU on October 31. He said that the best thing is to get a better deal and they are working hard for it. Johnson argued that the suspension was normal and considered it to be a new legislative agenda. Critics and oppositions criticised the government and said the suspension of parliament was in order to prevent further reverses. An alliance of opposition lawmakers and some from his own Conservative Party had forced through a law requiring Johnson to ask the EU to delay Brexit by three months if no deal was agreed by Oct. 19. Jeremy Corbyn, leader of Britain’s main opposition Labour Party, told his party’s annual conference that Johnson should quit but did not say whether he would call for a vote of no confidence.
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09:35 IST, September 25th 2019