Brexit: Scottish justice declares suspension of UK Parliament illegal

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson suffered another setback on Wednesday (September 11th) after Scottish justice declared the controversial suspension of Parliament illegal until October 14th, just two weeks before the date of Brexit.

This is the first judicial victory of the opponents of this highly controversial suspension of Parliament, described by some maneuvering the head of the Conservative government to prevent them from blocking a Brexit without agreement.

"Illegal, null and without effect"

In the first instance, the Scottish courts had rejected this action to block the suspension. Seized by nearly 80 parliamentarians, the Edinburgh Court of Appeal finally ruled that Boris Johnson's decision was "intended to obstruct Parliament" and declared the prorogation "illegal" and "null and void".

Joanna Cherry, the Scottish National Party (SNP) member who initiated the referral to the Edinburgh Inner Court of Session, immediately demanded that the Westminster Parliament be immediately reconvened. "We can not break the law with impunity, Boris Johnson," she said. "We demand that Parliament be immediately reconvoqué," she added on Sky News.

Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon has also made the same call, so that Parliament can continue its "essential work of control".

A call from the Johnson government

The Johnson government has announced that it will appeal this decision, taken unanimously by the three judges of the Scottish court, before the United Kingdom Supreme Court. The case should be reviewed from next Tuesday, according to a lawyer.

"We are disappointed with today's decision and will appeal to the Supreme Court," Downing Street said in a statement just after the announcement of the decision.

The two houses of the British Parliament, the Commons and the Lords, were suspended overnight from Monday to Tuesday under a so-called "prorogation" procedure until October 14, when Elizabeth II will deliver the "speech of the Queen ", prepared by her government and formally opening a new parliamentary session.

With AFP and Reuters