UK Supreme Court Declares Suspension of Parliament Unlawful

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Supreme Court in the United Kingdom has ruled against the British Prime Minister, Mr Boris Johnson, by declaring the shutting down of the parliament by his government as unlawfully.

For five week, the Prime Minister shut down the legislative arm of government and on Tuesday (today), 11 judges handed down the verdict. Lady Hale, President of the UK Supreme Court, said in her ruling this morning that the prorogation came about in “exceptional circumstances.”

According to her, the parliament “has a right to a voice” as to how a rise in its sitting comes about.

She said the effect on democracy of the prorogation was “extreme,” and that no evidence showed why such a long suspension was necessary.

Commenting after the ruling, Mr John Bercow, the Speaker of the House of Commons, said lawmakers must reconvene “without delay” after the Supreme Court’s stunning decision to not only rule Mr Boris Johnson’s suspension unlawful, but to quash the prorogation entirely.

In a statement, Mr 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.”

“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,” he added.

More developments are to follow.