By Aubrey Allegretti, political reporter
Boris Johnson's decision to suspend parliament is unlawful, a Scottish court has ruled.
The case was originally dismissed at the Court of Session last week, where Judge Lord Doherty said it was for politicians and not the courts to decide on shutting down the Commons and Lords for five weeks.
But three judges of the Inner House, the supreme civil court in Scotland, disagreed with that ruling today.
The UK government plans to appeal the latest ruling at the Supreme Court – the highest judicial body in the country.
A summary handed down today said: "This was an egregious case of a clear failure to comply with generally accepted standards of behaviour of public authorities."
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It added there were two "principal reasons" for Mr Johnson closing parliament – legally known as prorogation.
First to "prevent or impede parliament holding the executive to account and legislating with regard to Brexit".
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And second to "allow the executive to pursue a policy of a no-deal Brexit without further parliamentary interference".
It said the suspension of parliament was therefore "unlawful and is thus null and of no effect".
A UK government spokesperson said they were "disappointed" at the decision and claimed suspending parliament was "the legal and necessary way" of delivering "a strong domestic legislative agenda".
Sir Keir Starmer, Labour's shadow Brexit secretary, called for the prime minister to call MPs back to Westminster "immediately" to "decide what happens next".
Mr Johnson has insisted he suspended parliament to follow procedure, which dictates the Commons and Lords are shut down in tRead More – Source
