Boris Johnson could recall parliament if UK Supreme Court decides he unlawfully suspended it as part of Brexit plan
- But prime minister has not ruled out attempting to suspend parliament again if judges deem his actions illegal
- Opponents have challenged shutdown, saying Johnson is trying to silence parliament because it is an obstacle to him taking Britain out of EU even without a deal
Boris Johnson could recall parliament if Britain’s highest court rules he unlawfully suspended it, a government lawyer said on Tuesday, after judges heard the prime minister wanted a shutdown because it was an obstacle to his Brexit plans.
Johnson announced on August 28 that he had asked Queen Elizabeth to prorogue, or suspend, parliament for five weeks from last week until October 14. He said the shutdown was necessary to allow him to introduce a new legislative agenda.
Opponents said the real reason was to prevent scrutiny and challenges by parliament – where he now has no majority – to his Brexit policy, especially his promise to leave the European Union by October 31 even if no divorce deal has been reached.
They want the Supreme Court, Britain’s highest judicial body, to rule Johnson’s actions were illegal. Critics, including rebels thrown out of his Conservative Party over Brexit, say he should resign if that is its decision.
“The consequence [of his advice to the monarch being ruled unlawful] could be that he goes to the queen and seeks the recall of parliament,” Richard Keen, the government’s chief law officer in Scotland, told the court.