Boris Johnson news: PM forced to return early from UN as Corbyn demands election following Supreme Court humiliation
Follow all the latest developments
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
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
Boris Johnson has called for an election in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling, according to reporters travelling with the PM in New York.
A Labour source said it was "pretty clear" the government did not think last month that it would win a vote for a conference recess "because they decided to illegally shut down parliament instead" - amid speculation the government could table a motion for a short recess over the Tory conference.
The Conservative Party annual conference is due to start in Manchester this weekend, running until next Wednesday.
It seems unlikely that opposition MPs - who have had their conferences already - will approve a recess to allow the Tories time off, especially considering parliament is only due to sit again tomorrow.
Nicola Sturgeon has said the PM's decision brought shame to his office and his party - and showed the Westminster political system was badly broken.
The Scottish first minister said: "This behaviour on the part of a prime minister shames his office, it shames the UK government, it shames the Conservative party and it demonstrates beyond doubt that Westminster politics is badly broken."
Liberal Democrat MP Tom Brake has told The Independent there is a case for Boris Johnson facing contempt of parliament proceedings, not because of the Supreme Court judgement but the government's failure to publish documents that MPs ordered No10 to release.
He said: “At some point but probably not tomorrow, there would be a case for moving against him for contempt of parliament. I don’t think that is something that is imminent.
"I think we will want to get him to explain himself in parliament and expose himself to scrutiny. If he fails to do that, contempt is a route we could go down. We have got the basis to trigger it in that he hasn’t provided the full Yellowhammer document or any of the correspondence between his aides on prorogation, as required by the humble address.”
This is a story related to vote from earlier in September
Jeremy Corbyn's speech is going to be slightly delayed. His office has just told journalists at the party's annual conference he will appear on stage at 4.30pm.
Boris Johnson has been forced to cut short his trip to the US in the wake of a humiliating Supreme Court ruling which declared his decision to suspend parliament unlawful.
Responding to the explosive decision for the first time, the PM told reporters in New York that he “strongly disagrees” with the verdict but said parliament “will come back”.
The prime minister also said his “preference” was for parliament to be prorogued again so a Queen’s Speech could be held.
Labour conference has overwhelmingly backed a radical bid to work towards slashing carbon emissions by 2030 amid pressure from activists to toughen the party's stance.
Delegates voted for a motion by campaigners for a Green New Deal which “works towards a path to net-zero carbon emissions by 2030”, guarantees green jobs and calls for nationalisation of the big six energy firms.
The GMB union, which represents energy workers, strongly opposed the accelerated target, instead supporting a separate motion to cut carbon emissions without a fixed date.
Both motions were passed by delegates but support for the more radical bid will heap pressure on the party leadership, as conference motions are used to help shape Labour policy.
A 2030 target would be one of the most ambitious in Europe and brings Labour in line with the Green Party, but ahead of the Tories, who are aiming for 2050, and the Liberal Democrat target of 2045.
Former Conservative prime minister John Major, who presented evidence in the courts against Boris Johnson via his lawyers, has also reacted to the explosive Supreme Court judgement.
Boris Johnson has come under fire from a former member of his cabinet for contradicting his previous claims that the suspension of parliamentary sittings was “nothing to do with Brexit”.
Responding to the Supreme Court’s ruling that the five-week “prorogation” was unlawful, Mr Johnson said that some people were trying to “frustrate” Brexit and that the job of negotiating an EU withdrawal deal was made harder by the outcome of the case.
Former work and pensions secretary Amber Rudd, who walked out of Mr Johnson’s cabinet in protest at his expulsion of Brexit rebels from the Conservative party, said the prime minister was trying to “have it both ways”.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments