Brexit news: Supreme Court ruled Boris Johnson shut down parliament ‘unlawfully’ and people online are seriously divided | indy100 | indy100

Boris Johnson’s decision to suspend parliament earlier this month was unlawful, the Supreme Court has ruled in a historic decision.

In a unanimous verdict, the judges said the prorogation was “unlawful, void and to no effect.”

Announcing the verdict, Supreme Court president Lady Hale said: "The court is bound to conclude that the decision to advise Her Majesty to prorogue parliament was unlawful because it had the effect of frustrating or preventing the ability of parliament to carry out its constitutional functions without reasonable justification.”

She added:

The prolonged suspension of parliamentary democracy took place in quite exceptional circumstance.
The effect on the fundamentals of our democracy was extreme.

House of Commons speaker John Bercow was one of the first to respond “welcoming” the decision.

Responding to the ruling immediately, 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.

The decision is dividing the country, with some people agreeing that Boris's decision to prorogue government was indeed unlawful, whilst others are arguing that the Supreme Court's decision is preventing government from doing its job.

Many agree with the decision that proroguing was "unlawful" and they are calling on Boris Johnson to resign

Dear @BorisJohnson We already knew you are dishonest. The highest Court in the land has now ruled that you are law… https://t.co/pU328FcFoC
— John Edwards (@John Edwards) 1569319215

As I said at the time of prorogation - the PM is supposed to take decisions to the Queen that have the confidence… https://t.co/0zsA8qGGHY
— Prof Kate Williams 💙 (@Prof Kate Williams 💙) 1569319263

How can the prime minister stay in office when he is UNANIMOUSLY deemed by the Supreme Court to have lied to the Qu… https://t.co/ErtdNIK2qB
— Oliver Murphy (@Oliver Murphy) 1569319517

Boris Johnson has been found to have acted unlawfully in proroguing Parliament He is not fit to be our Prime Minis… https://t.co/imP2qDUYPv
— Green💚Molly (@Green💚Molly) 1569318312

#SupremeCourt And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the Separation of Powers in action - an independent judiciary hold… https://t.co/Th94SHlXpu
— Chris Gray⭐⭐ HumanVariant. 🇮🇪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇪🇺 (@Chris Gray⭐⭐ HumanVariant. 🇮🇪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇪🇺) 1569319064

Liberal Democrat MP Chuka Umunna called it a "damininng [sic] indictment of the PM and Government's conduct"

This is a totally damininng indictment of the PM and Government’s conduct by the UK’s Supreme Court. They find that… https://t.co/YUYCoWQ6Oo
— ChukaUmunna (@ChukaUmunna) 1569318214

Others called it a "seismic" decision

Unanimous- scorching finding - basically telling the speaker to Open the Gates. Historians will write many books ab… https://t.co/WNg9gt38Qy
— anita anand (@anita anand) 1569318401

Given prerogation is unlawful, void and of no effect, the House of Commons should be recalled immediately. No ifs,… https://t.co/fE7tO9owkU
— ChukaUmunna (@ChukaUmunna) 1569318394

"The prime minister must resign"

A Supreme Court historic judgement that the #Prorogation of Parliament was unlawful, and is therefore null and void… https://t.co/7Q67oHUrZw
— Paul Sweeney (@Paul Sweeney) 1569318770

Pro-Brexiteers argued that the Supreme Court has "overstepped"

With respect, #LadyHale, in her summary, is wrong to say that the circumstances of this #prorogation are"unlikely"… https://t.co/PajzIC6xg1
— Mal Fletcher (@Mal Fletcher) 1569320443

Judges with a REMAIN agenda making a political decision. (Ie. Doing their bit to ensure we remain in the German Emp… https://t.co/UNNiDYjefE
— LTH🇬🇧london (@LTH🇬🇧london) 1569319283

And some people are taking the opportunity to make lighthearted jokes in the face of such serious issues

“You’re gonna need a bigger tray” #SupremeCourt https://t.co/lJgcmb9dfJ
— Sanjeev Kohli (@Sanjeev Kohli) 1569319193

I would have got away with but for those pesky Scots! #SupremeCourt https://t.co/bwgBxTq3VG
— Chitterin’licht! (@Chitterin’licht!) 1569319359

Basically:

Gammon Twitter, the UK Government, and the state of British politics all in one: #SupremeCourt https://t.co/Bz0Ao29kVD
— William G. Saraband 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇵🇹🏳️‍🌈 (@William G. Saraband 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇵🇹🏳️‍🌈) 1569318500

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