MPs and campaigners react to Supreme Court’s ruling on prorogation
Here's what progressive MPs have to say about the ruling against prorogation
The Supreme Court today ruled that Boris Johnson’s prorogation of Parliament was unlawful.
The Prime Minister suspended (prorogued) parliament for five weeks earlier in September, but today the court ruled it was not right to prevent MPs carry out their usual duties as Brexit approaches.
The Commons Speaker John Bercow has confirmed that parliament will return from 11:30am on Wednesday, although there will be no Prime Minsiter’s Questions.
But what do certain progressive MPs think of the Supreme Court’s ruling?
Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour Party
Starting with the top dog, Corbyn spoke about the Supreme Court ruling at the current Labour Party conference going on in Brighton.
He said the Supreme Court ruling “shows the Prime Minister has acted wrongly in shutting down parliament – it demonstrates a contempt for democracy and abuse of power by him.”
The Labour leader added: “Obey the law, take No Deal off the table and have an election to elect a government that respects democracy, respects the rule of law and brings power back to the people not usurps it in the way Boris Johnson has done.”
Diane Abbott, Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington
Abbott announced she would be heading back to London to represent her constituents in parliament tomorrow and called Johnson a “liar”.
She said: “The Supreme Court has ruled what all of us knew, that Boris is a liar and that proroguing parliament just to avoid inconvenient political discussion is actually illegal.”
Hilary Benn, Labour MP for Leeds Central
Benn was pretty diplomatic in his assessment of the Supreme Court ruling, claiming the Prime Minister did what he did because he “didn’t want us holding him to account”.
Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion and former leader of the Green Party
Lucas feels the result of the Supreme Court ruling is merely the start of a lot of change that must happen in our country if we are to save what we stand for – democracy.
The MP said: “This is just the start. Our democracy won’t be safe until we have a written constitution, protecting our rights and rule of law.”
Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, Labour MP for Tooting
Dr Allin-Khan took the hardline, calling for Johnson to resign.
Having suspended parliament, which has now been ruled unlawful, Allin-Khan believes anyone “with any decency” would step down from their role.
Time will tell whether Johnson decides to do this.
Yvette Cooper, Labour MP for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford
Cooper has put the situation very plainly, calling Johnson out for what he has done.
She said Johnson “cannot just cancel parliament to avoid scrutiny” and added that the Prime Minister “thinks there is one rule for him and another for everyone else”.
“There isn’t,” the MP assured.
Lucy Skoulding is a freelance reporter at Left Foot Forward. Follow her on Twitter.
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