Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
No PM has abused power like this in the past 50yrs
Highest court told PM ‘silenced’ MPS
THE UK’S highest court yesterday heard claims Prime Minister Boris Johnson deliberately tried to silence MPS debating Brexit with an “exceptionally long” shutdown of Parliament.
Kicking off a three-day case, lawyers for campaigner Gina Miller said it was an “unlawful abuse of power” to stop debate on Brexit.
And at the Supreme Court the PM was accused of the worst abuse of power of its kind for 50 years.
Mr Johnson had asked the Queen to close Parliament from September 9 to October 14 – claiming it was standard to hold a Queen’s Speech.
Ms Miller’s barrister Lord Pannick QC said: “The exceptional length of the prorogation in this case is strong evidence that the Prime Minister’s motive was to silence Parliament for that period. Because he sees Parliament as an obstacle to the furtherance of his political aims.” Acting for the Government, the Advocate General for Scotland, Lord Keen QC, argued Parliament would only lose “seven sitting days”.
He added it would have been in recess for party conference season throughout most of the five weeks.
Lord Pannick said: “Parliament will be silenced for a substantial part of the period leading up to October 31 when issues of grave national importance are being addressed, or not addressed, by the Government.”
The case arose out of challenges brought in both England and Scotland. While the High Court in London decided it was not a question for the courts, in Edinburgh, the Court of Session concluded Mr Johnson’s decision was unlawful.
Supreme Court President Lady Hale emphasised the case is only about the legality of his advice to the Queen. She said: “We aren’t concerned with the wider political issues.”
Yesterday, Ruth Davidson, in her first TV interview since quitting as Scottish Tory leader, told ITV’S Lorraine the shutdown was done in a “bad way” and “looked political”. Meanwhile, it emerged the Government is holding back papers from the EU amid fears of leaks.
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland warned: “Let’s be careful in these negotiations.”
Mr Johnson’s spokesman said: “The talks will shortly be on a daily basis.”