Boris Johnson refuses to rule out another prorogation
Boris Johnson refuses to rule out another prorogation
The prime minister Boris Johnson refuses to rule out suspending Parliament again, after returning to the House of Commons following a Supreme Court ruling that his previous decision to do so was unlawful.
Boris Johnson appeared to be in an unrepentant mood, as he told the Commons that the court ‘was wrong to pronounce on what is a political question at a time of great national controversy.’
When asked by Labour MP Owen Smith if he could guarantee that he ‘would not try to pull this stunt again and seek prorogation’, Mr Johnson replied that the ‘House and the country does need a Queen’s speech and we will be examining the judgements to see exactly how that should be brought forward in this new context’.
The prime minister went on to challenge the Labour party to commit to an election.
Judges at the UK’s highest court of the land had ruled unanimously yesterday that the decision to suspend Parliament for five weeks was unlawful.
Lady Hale, President of the Supreme Court, said the prorogation was ‘void and of no effect’, adding: ‘Parliament has not been prorogued.’
The speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow told MPs to return to Parliament at 11.30 today.
Jolyon Maugham QC, a leading legal petitioner in the Supreme Court case. Took to Twitter to warn that they would take the government to court again, should Mr Johnson try to suspend Parliament once more.
He Tweeted: ‘If The Charlatan prorogues Parliament again, we will again have his actions declared unlawful. But ultimately MPs must act.’
