Download the all-new Republic app:

Published 20:42 IST, September 17th 2019

UK: Supreme Court hears pleas on PM Johnson's Parliament suspension

The UK Supreme Court on September 17 will hear two different appeals on British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's decision to suspend Parliament till October 14.

Reported by: Avantika Shukla
Follow: Google News Icon
  • share
null | Image: self
Advertisement

The UK Supreme Court on September 17 will hear two different appeals on British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's decision to suspend Parliament till October 14. The suspension of the Parliament came ahead of the UK PM's decision to exit the European Union on October 31 with or without any deal. He took advice from the Queen before taking the decision of suspending Parliament. Scotland has been opposing Johnson's plans and its highest court stated on September 11, that suspension of Parliament is against the laws. It is considered an attempt to suppress the voice of those opposing PM's Brexit plans. The matter will be in the Supreme Court for the next three days. Johnson on a twitter video announced that the United Kingdom will exit the EU on October 31 with or without a divorce deal.

READ: Britain's Johnson To Irish Leader: Brexit Deal Can Still Be Reached

Advertisement

READ: UK PM Boris Johnson Thinks The Brexit Deal Is In 'Rough Shape'

The arguments by opposition on Day 1

On the first day of the hearing, David Pannick QC, representative of the opponents, said that the Queen has no motive behind the decision and she only did what the Prime Minister advised her to do so. He also said that the court is making no criticism of the Queen in the proceedings as she acted on her minister's advice. He then said that the Prime Minister's statements make it clear that he found the Parliament as a potential threat to the execution of his plans. He added that the PM's advice to the queen was maybe influenced by his wish to prevent any opposition coming his way in the Parliament on Brexit. He then raised a point saying that if the PM had no political motive then he would have dissolved the Parliament for a shorter period. He also questioned the PM on why he did not make any official statement that explained all his reasons for the suspension. The Prime Minister can take action if motives are well explained. Any political motive behind such an action is not permitted. According to him, the parliament was prohibited from 'performing its scrutiny functions'. 

Advertisement

READ: Boris Johnson The Brexit 'Hulk' To Meet European Commission's Junker

A legal battle being fought 

There are 11 judges who will be giving a final verdict on whether the decision taken by the British PM was unlawful. Last week the High Court of England and Whales dismissed the plea saying it is a political matter and doesn't require any involvement by the Judiciary. The highest court of Scotland made an appeal to the Supreme Court last week on Johnson's Parliament suspension. After leading the legal battle at Scotland's Court of Session, the Scottish National Parliament spoke to a news agency saying that they are calling for the Parliament to be recalled right away. The opponents of Johnson's Brexit deal are hoping that the court will support them and restart the Parliament proceedings. They also want the resignation of Boris Johnson if the judges find that he misled the Queen in order to suspend Parliament for 5 weeks. Johnson in his defence said the recent Parliament session lasted longer than it usually does, for 5 weeks. He also said that there is a lot of time to discuss Brexit after a European Union summit on October 17-18. 

Advertisement

READ: David Cameron Slams UK PM Boris Johnson, Alleges Hypocrisy On Brexit

17:22 IST, September 17th 2019