Brexit: It’s PM vs ex-PM showdown on prorogation
LONDON: Former prime minister John Major took on his fellow Tory Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the Supreme Court on Thursday, opposing the latter’s decision to prorogue parliament on the third day of the case expected to have a major bearing on Brexit-related politics.
The hearing witnessed leading lawyers appearing for the contending parties: the Johnson government, Indian-origin campaigner Gina Miller, the Scottish government, MPs as well as Major. Government lawyers argued that the prorogation is a political matter and not one for the courts, adding the prime minister is entitled to prorogue Parliament. But opposing lawyers argued it undermines parliamentary sovereignty, and is designed to ‘silence’ MPs.
In one of the forceful presentations, barrister Aidan O’Neill told the 11 judges: “What we have with this prorogation is the mother of parliaments closed down by the father of lies. Lies have consequences but the truth will set us free.”
“Rather than allow lies to triumph, this court should listen to the angels of its better nature and rule that this prorogation is an unlawful abuse of the power of prorogation which has been entrusted to the government,” O’Neill, appearing for a crossparty team of MPs, said.
Major told the court in a 10-page written submission: “The court is under no obligation to approach this case on the artificially naive basis that the handful of disclosed documents, the contents of which nobody has been prepared to verify with a statement of truth, should nevertheless be assumed to be entirely accurate and complete when even members of the cabinet do not appear to believe them.”
EU’S JUNCKER : I THINK WE CAN HAVE A DEAL
A Brexit deal is possible, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Thursday, adding that if the Irish border backstop which the British government wants removed could be replaced with alternatives, it would not be needed.
“I think we can have a deal” Juncker said in an interview with Sky News, adding that he didn’t know if the chances of a deal were more than 50-50. Juncker reiterated that he didn’t have a special attachment to the backstop - the plan to ensure the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland remains open after Brexit. “If the results are there, I don’t care about the instrument.”