BEVERLY HILLS, September 24, (THEWILL) – Britain’s Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled “unlawful” a decision by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to suspend parliament in the run-up to Brexit, saying it was “void and of no effect”.
“The court is bound to conclude… that the decision to advise Her Majesty to prorogue parliament was unlawful,” Supreme Court head Brenda Hale said in the ruling.
She said: “The effect on the fundamentals of our democracy was extreme.”
She added that the unanimous decision of the 11 justices was 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.
Hale said this was “because it had the effect of frustrating or preventing the ability of parliament to carry out its constitutional functions”.
She said the suspension was as a result “void and of no effect”, adding: “Parliament has not been prorogued”.
AFP reports that the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, said MPs should reconvene immediately.
The judges “have vindicated the right and duty of parliament to meet at this crucial time to scrutinise the executive and hold ministers to account”, Bercow said.
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