Corbyn goes on attack
BY DAVID CLEGG Political Editor JEREMY Corbyn yesterday demanded Boris Johnson “resign now” as the Supreme Court ruling sent shockwaves through the Labour Party conference.
The leader of the opposition brought forward his keynote speech – originally scheduled to take place today – so he could return to Westminster.
He used his address in Brighton to attack Johnson, saying: “He will never shut down our democracy or silence the voices of us, the people.”
He added: “Boris Johnson has been found to have misled the country. This unelected Prime Minister should now resign.”
Party members then erupted into cheers of “Johnson out”.
Corbyn also said he was a “different kind” of leader and insisted Labour’s Brexit policy was “not complicated”.
Yet despite demanding an election, the Labour leader indicated the party will not table a vote of no confidence in the Government this week.
Instead, he said an election should wait until the threat of a no-deal Brexit on October 31 is removed.
Corbyn removed most policy announcements planned for the speech in order to focus on the historic court ruling.
He said: “The Prime Minister acted illegally when he tried to shut down opposition to his reckless and disastrous plan to crash out of the European Union without a deal. But he has failed.”
Corbyn told cheering Labour members the Prime Minister was “part of an elite that disdains democracy”.
He added: “Let me quote the Supreme Court’s conclusion, ‘Unlawful, null and of no effect and should be quashed’. They’ve got the Prime Minister down to a tee.”
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard praised Corbyn’s performance.
He said: “On the day the highest court in the land declared that Boris Johnson had acted illegally, it is clearer than ever that Jeremy Corbyn is a prime minister in waiting.
“Boris Johnson’s time is up. He must act in accordance with democracy, take no-deal off the table and make way for a general election and a Labour government.
“Only a Labour government can resolve the deadlock over Brexit and give our constitution the shake-up it needs to restore trust in politics.”