KentOnline

bannermobile

News

Sport

Business

What's On

Advertise

Contact

Other KM sites

CORONAVIRUS WATCH KMTV LIVE SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTERS LISTEN TO OUR PODCASTS LISTEN TO KMFM
SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE
Business

Kent reacts to Supreme Court decision on Boris Johnson proroguing parliament

By: Paul Francis pfrancis@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 11:14, 24 September 2019

Updated: 21:05, 24 September 2019

MPs have reacted to the news that Boris Johnson's decision to suspend parliament was unlawful prompting calls for him to quit.

Jeremy Corbyn, Jo Swinson and Nicola Sturgeon have all called for the Prime Minister - who has been in power for 62 days - to resign after the Supreme Court ruled his decision unlawful.

Kent MPs react to "unlawful" suspension of parliament

Mr Johnson suspended - or prorogued - Parliament for five weeks earlier this month.

He said it was to allow a Queen's Speech to outline his new domestic agenda. But the UK's highest court said the advice was wrong.

mpu1

The court's president, Lady Hale, said: "The effect on the fundamentals of our democracy was extreme.

"Parliament had not been prorogued - the decision was null and of no effect - and it was for the Speakers of the Commons and Lords to decide what to do next."

Speaker John Bercow has said the House of Commons will resume tomorrow and that he had contacted the party leaders to make them aware of his plan. He welcomed the ruling, describing it as "unanimous and unambiguous and unqualified."

Read more!

Reacting, Labour MP for Canterbury, Rosie Duffield, said: “It was the wrong decision to prorogue Parliament under the pretence of preparing for a Queen’s Speech, and so I welcome today’s unanimous ruling by the Supreme Court.”

“That the Supreme Court has ruled that a sitting Prime Minister acted unlawfully makes today a dark day for British politics.

"Precious time has now been lost - MPs like me should have been allowed to continue holding this government to account over the progress in their negotiations with the EU from inside the Commons chamber.”

“But I’m looking forward to getting back to Westminster to press the government for concrete action in their preparations for all Brexit outcomes Canterbury and Kent might face come October 31. I back a final say for the British people on any deal, and will campaign to remain in the European Union.”

mpu2

Charlie Elphicke, Dover and Deal MP, said the wait for Brexit has been too long. "The court ruling doesn’t actually mean much in terms of Brexit. Everyone knows that Parliament has already had three years and achieved nothing," he told Kent Online

"The truth is that people just want us to get on with it. No more dither and delay. We must leave today.”He tweeted: "Whether Parliament meets or does not meet we now need to leave the EU and move on. For too long Brexit has crowded out the important debates we need to have on other matters and the future we seek to build."

Lib Dem MEP and Faversham county councillor Antony Hook said: “Today’s ruling is great news for parliamentary democracy and the rule of law.

"Unelected Prime Minister Boris Johnson tried to shut down parliament for a month to avoid scrutiny and to deliver a no-deal Boris Brexit that’s completely different to what he promised in 2016.

"Parliament should return immediately to hold the government to account.

"It’s clear neither no deal nor the withdrawal agreement will pass the House of Commons.

"An extension should be requested immediately so the British people can have a further say either in a People’s Vote or a general election."

How is Brexit going to affect Kent? For all the latest news, views and analysis visit our dedicated page here.

Read more: All the latest news from Kent

Read more

More by this author

sticky

© KM Group - 2024