Boris Johnson news: PM forced to return early from UN as Corbyn demands election following Supreme Court humiliation
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Your support makes all the difference.Boris Johnson is returning the UK to face urgent questions in parliament after the Supreme Court declared his government unlawfully shut it down for five weeks.
The prime minister was forced to cut short his trip to the UN General Assembly in New York to attend the House of Commons on Wednesday.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called for Mr Johnson to “consider his position” following the landmark decision, while Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson said he was “not fit” to be PM.
Speaking in New York, the prime minister said his government will “respect” the court verdict and added that “of course parliament will come back”.
Downing Street confirmed that he had spoken to the Queen by phone but refused to say whether he had apologised for advising her to prorogue parliament.
It was also reported that Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the House, had described the ruling as a “constitutional coup”.
See below for our coverage of events as they happened
BREAKING: Speaker John Bercow said MPs must now “convene without delay”.
He said: “I welcome the Supreme Court’s judgement that the prorogation of Parliament was unlawful.
“The judges have rejected the Government’s claim that closing down Parliament for five weeks was merely standard practice to allow for a new Queen’s Speech.
“In reaching their conclusion, they have vindicated the right and duty of Parliament to meet at this crucial time to scrutinise the executive and hold Ministers to account.
“As the embodiment of our Parliamentary democracy, the House of Commons must convene without delay. To this end, I will now consult the party leaders as a matter of urgency.”
Reaction to the historic ruling.
Labour’s shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer said: “Strong judgement from the court proves Boris Johnson has no regard for the law. Yet again he has been found out. The sooner we resume our work challenging and defeating him the better.”
Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson said the decision by the Supreme Court confirms that Boris Johnson “isn’t fit to be Prime Minister”.
“He’s misled Queen and country, and unlawfully silenced the people’s representatives,” she tweeted. “I’m on my way to resume my duties in the Commons and stop Brexit altogether.”
Green MP Caroline Lucas has said the Supreme Court’s decision is “just the start”.
“Supreme Court decision has stopped Johnson in his tracks,” she tweeted. “Parliament cannot be swept aside by prime ministerial whim. It must resume immediately.
“This is just the start. Our democracy won’t be safe until we have a written constitution, protecting our rights and rule of law.”
The SNP’s Joanna Cherry QC says: “Boris Johnson’s position is untenable and he should have the guts to resign.”
“Parliament was not prorogued,” says Gina Miller said outside the Supreme Court in reaction to the verdict. “MPs should return to work tomorrow and get on with scrutinising this government.”
“Today’s ruling confirms that we are a nation governed by the rule of law. Rules that everyone even the prime minister is not above.”
Jeremy Corbyn called on Boris Johnson on Tuesday to consider his position after the Supreme Court ruled that the prime minister's move to suspend parliament was unlawful.
To huge cheers and chants of “Johnson out!”, the Labour leader said the prime minister should become the shortest-ever serving leader and that Labour was ready to form a government.
“I invite Boris Johnson, in the historic words, to consider his position and become the shortest prime minister there’s ever been,” Corbyn told delegates at the Labour Party's annual conference in Brighton.
On the judges verdict Corbyn said: “It demonstrates a contempt for democracy and an abuse of democracy by him.”
“I will be in touch with [Speaker Bercow] immediately so that we demand parliament is recalled so we can question the prime minister and demand that he obeys the law that has been passed by parliament.”
Jeremy Corbyn addresses Labour conference (PA)
Here’s Jeremy Corbyn calling for Boris Johnson to “consider his position” following the bombshell Supreme Court decision.
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage called for the Boris Johnson’s chief adviser Dominic Cummings to be removed from his role following the Supreme Court’s decision.
“The calling of a Queen’s Speech and prorogation is the worst political decision ever,” he tweeted. “Dominic Cummings must go.”
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