Nigel Farage rages after Supreme Court's parliament suspension ruling: 'Worst political decision ever'

Calls for the PM's senior adviser Dominic Cummings to go

Nigel Farage has branded prorogation the "worst political decision ever" and called for Boris Johnson's top aide to quit after the Supreme Court ruled the move unlawful.

The Brexit Party leader erupted in fury at the government in the wake of the shock ruling, where a panel of 11 justices unanimously found the decision to send MPs home for five weeks was illegal.

He called for the prime minister's chief adviser Dominic Cummings to go, who is widely regarded as the brains behind the decision to prorogue parliament earlier this month.

Mr Farage said: "The calling of a Queen's Speech and prorogation is the worst political decision ever. Dominic Cummings must go."

His anger was shared by ex-Tory cabinet minister David Gauke, who said: "Strange times. I agree with Nigel."

And former cabinet minister Amber Rudd said Johnson should consider sacking Cummings, telling Sky News: “He is clearly not getting good advice. He will have to draw his own conclusions, but if I had been getting the kind of advice he has been getting, I would certainly be considering some people’s positions.”

In extraordinary scenes, the court ruled that the prime minister's advice to the Queen to suspend parliament until 14 October was unlawful as it had frustrated parliament.

It found the prorogation itself was "void and of no effect" and ruled therefore that parliament has not been suspended.

Announcing the decision, the court's president Lady Hale said: "It is for parliament, and particularly the Speaker and the Lord Speaker, to decide what to do next.

"Unless there is some parliamentary rule of which we are unaware, they can take immediate steps to enable each House to meet as soon as possible.

"It is not clear to us that any step is needed from the prime minister, but if it is, the court is pleased that his counsel have told the court that he will take all necessary steps to comply with the terms of any declaration made by this court."

Mr Johnson advised the Queen on August 28 to prorogue parliament for five weeks and it was suspended on 9 September.

He claimed the five-week suspension was to prepare for a Queen's Speech but critics who brought the legal challenge argued it was to prevent MPs from scrutinising his Brexit plans.