Boris Johnson news: Brexiteers' bid to force no-deal suffers legal blow, as constitutional expert warns UK 'heading for deep trouble'
John Bercow vows to stop prime minister suspending parliament as political crisis continues
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Your support makes all the difference.Britain is in “deep trouble” unless Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn can act like “good chaps” and find a way to resolve the Brexit crisis, a leading constitutional expert has warned.
In a boost for pro-EU campaigners, a Court of Session judge has ruled that a legal challenge seeking to prevent Mr Johnson from suspending parliament to force through a no-deal exit will be heard before 31 October.
It comes as No 10 is said to be ready to pull British diplomats out of Brussels. Donald Trump’s national security adviser John Bolton, meanwhile, said the UK was “first in line” for a trade deal with the US after meeting the PM.
Meanwhile John Bercow, the House of Commons speaker, has warned that he will try to stop the prime minister from suspending parliament.
Mr Bercow told an audience at the Edinburgh Fringe festival that he "strongly" believes the House of Commons "must have its way", in remarks reported by the Herald newspaper.
"And if there is an attempt to circumvent, to bypass or - God forbid - to close down Parliament, that is anathema to me," he said.
"I will fight with every breath in my body to stop that happening."
Amber Rudd also told the BBC on Tuesday that she would urge the prime minister not to suspend the Commons.
If you would like to see how the day's events unfolded, please see what was our live coverage below:
Boris Johnson has taken to Twitter to emphasise some of his key pledges.
The prime minister said the UK would leave the EU on 31 October and that his government would invest more in the NHS and crack down on violent crime.
Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd has said she will urge Boris Johnson not to suspend Parliament in order to force through a no-deal Brexit against the will of MPs.
Ms Rudd said she would tell the Prime Minister that the House of Commons cannot be ignored in order to secure what she described as a "far inferior" no-deal scenario.
Mr Johnson has refused to rule out taking the controversial measure as part of his "do or die" commitment to take the UK out of the European Union by October 31.
"Well, I remain a great admirer of Parliament and of parliamentary sovereignty and I will continue to argue for the executive of the Government that I'm part of to work with Parliament, not against them," Ms Rudd told the BBC.
"I will play my part in Cabinet and privately with the Prime Minister and with ministers in arguing strongly for respecting parliamentary sovereignty. And you know, I'm a Member of Parliament, the Prime Minister and all Cabinet members are Members of Parliament, we need to remember where our authority comes from."
Her comments came as a judge agreed to fast-track a hearing over whether Mr Johnson can legally prorogue Parliament, so that the case can be heard before the Halloween deadline.
"Once again the nation’s politicians have ramped up the law and order rhetoric. For anyone even vaguely paying attention this will all feel very familiar. In 1993, prime minister John Major urged us to “condemn a little more and understand a little less” when considering the response to violent crime," argues our opinion columnist Oonagh Ryder.
"New Labour’s response was to one-up the Tories with a “tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime” approach, introducing an array of new police and court powers to ensure even low-level offenders could be put away for years.
"Boris’s “new” proposal to create 10,000 new prison places was, in fact, announced by Michael Gove three years ago, albeit cushioned by the slightly fluffier language of “rehabilitation”."
Read more here:
Dominic Raab, the UK's foreign secretary, has condemned the ongoing violence in Hong Kong, where pro-democracy protesters have repeatedly clashed with police officers.
"Concerning to see what's happening in Hong Kong and the worrying pictures of clashes between police & protesters at the airport," Mr Raab said in a tweet posted on Tuesday evening.
"As I said to Carrie Lam during my call last week, we condemn the violence & encourage constructive dialogue to find a peaceful way forward."
Earlier on Tuesday Boris Johnson said that the most important free trade deal that Britain needed to strike was with the European Union.
Britain is due to leave the EU on 31 October and Mr Johnson said he was prepared for an exit whether or not any withdrawal agreement has been struck with the bloc.
"The single biggest deal that we need to do is a free trade agreement with our friends and partners over the Channel," he told Sky News.
On Monday, U.S. national security adviser John Bolton said the United States would enthusiastically support a no-deal Brexit if that was what the British government decided to do and would seek to work fast on a free trade agreement.
"In my experience, the Americans are very tough negotiators indeed and we will do a great deal with them and it will open up opportunities for businesses, particularly services companies in the U.S," Mr Johnson said. "It will be a tough old haggle but we'll get there."
"Ukip’s new leader, Richard Braine, has said he is “getting a bit fed up” with people making fun of his name," reports Chris Baynes.
"Gerard Batten’s successor, who was elected to lead the right-wing party last week, described jokes referring to him as “Dick Braine” as “bullying”.
"'I’m getting a bit fed up with all this dickbraine stuff,' he tweeted.
"George Osborne, the former Conservative chancellor, is among those who have poked fun at the Ukip leader’s name."
Read more here:
Boris Johnson needs to be "outspoken" in defending Hong Kong's freedoms, according to the final governor of the territory.
Lord Patten of Barnes said the Prime Minister must follow the lead of Canada and Australia while also pressing the United States to agree with Britain about the dangers of Chinese intervention in the city.
He also agreed with Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam that the area is "close to the abyss", with near-daily and increasingly violent confrontations between protesters and police occurring in recent weeks.
The Conservative peer added a commission of inquiry is needed to assess the reasons for the demonstrations and the way they have been policed.
Lord Patten told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "What's clearly needed is a process of reconciliation.
"It's the only way I think you'll put a cap on this and get back to peace and stability in Hong Kong, but it does need the government to move."
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson has said she hopes Boris Johnson will see a character transformation similar to that of Shakespeare's "young Prince Hal".
Ms Davidson was speaking at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on Tuesday when she told the audience her favourite play was Henry V, by William Shakespeare.
By the end of the Henriad series, Prince Harry has transformed from an irresponsible, wayward youth to a mature and disciplined King of England.
Ms Davidson, who is an English literature graduate, said "no job in the world" can prepare somebody for being prime minister and wishes for a similar change in character for Mr Johnson.
Describing his prospects in office, she said: "I only hope we will see that."
Ms Davidson acknowledged she has differences of opinion with Mr Johnson - specifically over the dangers of a no-deal Brexit - but called for him to be judged by his actions.
She added: "I'm a strong believer - and was taught in the Territorial Army - you salute the rank, not the person who wears it.
"The country does well if the prime minister does well, so I want him to do well.
"Any background we have is completely irrelevant to the national interest.
"I personally don't think no-deal is in the national interest - that's why I'm arguing against it.
"Judge him on what he was like as a prime minister and I will judge on what he's like as a prime minister."
John Bercow has told The Telegraph that he will stop Boris Johnson from closing parliament to secure Brexit.
Chris Williamson is suing Labour over his re-suspension for claiming the party was "too apologetic" on anti-Semitism.
The strong supporter of Jeremy Corbyn is preparing for potentially embarrassing court action against Labour in a bid to get readmitted to the party.
The Derby North MP said he was hoping to "overturn the unconstitutional decision" to reimpose his suspension from the "party I love".
Labour is understood to be confident its rules were followed and that there will be no successful grounds for a challenge.
Mr Williamson was originally suspended in February after he told a meeting of the Momentum campaign group that Labour was being "demonised" over the crisis.
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