Supreme Court decision expected early next week
The Supreme Court has said it will publish its ruling on Boris Johnson’s prorogation of parliament early next week, giving critics of the move hope that MPs could be back in work before October.
The three-day hearing, which included a submission from former Prime Minister John Major, wrapped up this afternoon with a final call from Lord Pannick that if the government loses, parliament should resume “as soon as possible next week”.
Pannick, the QC acting on behalf of Gina Miller, once again highlighted the length of prorogation as a key issue to consider, as well as the “the adverse effect on Parliamentary scrutiny”.
He added: “The remedy we seek is that the prime minister’s advice to Her Majesty was unlawful. We respectfully ask the court to make such a declaration as soon as possible because time is of the essence.”
Pannick went on to recommendjudges “let parliament sort out the problem” and suggested the court should encourage “the Prime Minister to ensure that parliament meets as soon as possible next week”.
Lady Hale, president of the Supreme Court, said the 11 judges would make its decision “as soon as it humanly can”, adding that would be “early next week”.
“None of this is easy,” she said.
Earlier in the day, government QC Lord Keen argued that the Supreme Court had been asked more to consider the length of the suspension of parliament, rather than the act of suspension itself.
He said: “Ultimately, what this court is being invited to do is to control the length of the prorogation of Parliament as exercised under the prerogative.”
He also pointed to the fact MPs had voted against a General Election knowing what the consequences would be.
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