BREAKING: Supreme Court rules Boris Johnson’s suspension of Parliament unlawful …LP leader calls for Boris Johnson’s resignation

BREAKING: Supreme Court rules Boris Johnson’s suspension of Parliament unlawful …LP leader calls for Boris Johnson’s resignation

Boris Johnson’s decision to suspend parliament earlier this month was unlawful, the Supreme Court has ruled.

In a unanimous verdict, the judges said the prorogation was “unlawful, void and to no effect”.

They dismissed the government’s suggestion that the issue was not a matter for the courts and said the prime minister did not have the right to close parliament if it had the effect of “preventing or frustrating without reasonable justification” the ability of Parliament to carry out its functions.

The ruling prompted immediate calls for Boris Johnson to resign.

The Supreme Court said parliament would now be free to make arrangements to resume sitting imminently. Legally, the judges said, it had never been prorogued.

Announcing the verdict, Supreme Court president Lady Hale said: “The court is bound to conclude that 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 the “prolonged suspension of parliamentary democracy took place in quite exceptional circumstance”, citing the upcoming Brexit deadline on 31 October.

She added: “The effect on the fundamentals of our democracy was extreme”.

Lady Hale said it would be for the speakers of the House of Commons and House of Lords to “take immediate steps to enable each House to meet as soon as possible”.

Responding to the ruling moments later, House of Commons Speaker John Bercow said: “I welcome the Supreme Court’s judgement that the prorogation of parliament was unlawful.

“The judges have rejected the government’s claim that closing down parliament for five weeks was merely standard practice to allow for a new Queen’s Speech. I

“In reaching their conclusion, they have vindicated the right and duty of parliament to meet at this crucial time to scrutinise the executive and hold ministers to account. As the embodiment of our parliamentary democracy, the House of Commons must convene without delay. To this end, I will now consult the party leaders as a matter of urgency.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn made an immediate statement from the podium at Labour’s conference in Brighton, saying Mr Johnson should “consider his position”.

He said: “It demonstrates a contempt for democracy and an abuse of power by him. The Supreme Court passes the baton to the Speaker to recall parliament. I will in touch immediately to demand that parliament is recalled so we can question that prime minister, demand that he obeys the law that has been passed by parliament.”

“A Labour government would want to be held to account, we wouldn’t bypass democracy.

“And I invite Boris Johnson, in the historic words, to consider his position.”

SNP MP Joanna Cherry, who led the challenge to prorogation in the Scottish courts, said the ruling was “a huge victory for the rule of law and for democracy” and also called on Mr Johnson to resign.

She said: “There is nothing to stop us members of parliament, such as myself and my colleagues from resuming immediately the important job of scrutinising this minority Tory government as we hurtle towards Brexit.”

Of Mr Johnson, she said: “His position is untenable and he should have the guts for once to do the decent thing and resign.”