LONDON: The British Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that Prime MinisterBoris Johnson illegally suspended Parliament, dealing him another heavyblow and thrusting the nation’s politics into even deeper turmoil, barely amonth before it is scheduled to leave the European Union.
The unanimous decision, which upheld a ruling from Scotland’s highest civilcourt, said that the suspension of Parliament until Oct. 14 is void —meaning that the lawmakers are still in session and can continue the debateover Brexit that was short-circuited when Mr. Johnson asked the queen tosuspend, or prorogue, Parliament for five weeks.
“The decision to advise Her Majesty to prorogue Parliament was unlawfulbecause it had the effect of frustrating or preventing the ability ofParliament to carry out its constitutional functions without reasonablejustification,” said Baroness Brenda Hale, the president of the court,speaking for the 11-judge panel that heard the case.
“The prime minister’s advice to Her Majesty was unlawful, void and of noeffect,” she said. “Parliament has not been prorogued.”
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The court ruled unanimously that Parliament is still in session and canresume its Brexit debate before the Oct. 14 date set by Mr.Johnson.CreditAndrew Testa for The New York Times
