Man with no shame – and no principles

THE highest court in the land has ruled the Prime Minister broke the law in a bid to avoid parliamentary scrutiny of his Government.

Yet the damning and unprecedented verdict has not been enough to convince him to resign.

In an era of numerous extraordinary political moments, yesterday’s bombshell judgment by the Supreme Court was perhaps the most extraordinary of all.

That the 11 justices unanimously agreed Boris Johnson acted unlawfully in proroguing Parliament is unprecedented.

The scope, scale and strength of this judgment is the greatest legal rebuke of a serving prime minister in history.

In a world where democratic norms were still being observed, Johnson would have resigned within five minutes of it being handed down.

This charlatan became PM just two months ago. In that time, he has lost six votes in the Commons, broken the law and lied to the Queen.

His disgrace is absolute. His humiliation complete.

Johnson’s shameful attempt to shrug off the ruling as no big deal speaks volumes about the type of man he is.

He is an untrustworthy liar willing to bring his country to the brink of destruction simply to serve his own ego.

He is completely unfit to be PM. He demeans the office simply by holding it.

But if Johnson continues to refuse to do the honourable thing, what happens next?

Well, Parliament returns today and the opposition parties will be working together to inflict the maximum possible damage on the Government.

A general election is inevitable in the coming months and the future of Brexit hangs in the balance.

The Supreme Court judgment was a historic decision with its origins in Scotland. It could also have historic implications for Scotland.

The SNP are certain to be the big winners in any general election. Scottish voters will surely punish sitting Tory MPs supporting Johnson and accepting his scandalous behaviour.

Labour’s puzzling Brexit position is also likely to cost them north of the Border. But the fallout of the Supreme Court decision also has implications for the Scottish independence debate.

For a start, it has reinforced the impression that the UK is a failing state.

The devastating impact on Johnson’s personal reputation is also significant.

He has repeatedly insisted he will veto any request from Nicola Sturgeon for a second referendum. That notion was a democratic disgrace before this judgment.

But the idea that an unelected PM with a history of breaking the law could refuse a legitimate demand from the Scottish Parliament for another vote is obscene.

Brexit has stretched the UK’s unwritten constitution to breaking point. There’s now every chance it could eventually break up Britain completely.