Boris Johnson‘s suspension of parliament has been ruled as unlawful by judges at the Court of Session, prompting MPs to demand he “comes back and face the music ”.
It comes as No 10 is warned about the danger of losing seats and falling short of a majority at a general election, as theConservatives‘lead overLaborwas cut to one point in the latest ComRes poll.
Labor’s deputy leaderTom Watson, meanwhile, is set to demandJeremy Corbynbacks a secondBrexitreferendum before any election in a speech this morning.
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Here’s Lizzy Buchan with more onKeir Starmer‘s stunned reaction – and his pledge to “see if we can’t open those doors and get back in parliament”.
WatchKeir Starmertold on stage about the ruling in the Court of Session:
Shadow Brexit secretaryKeir Starmerwas told about that sensational court ruling while on stage speaking to the TUC.
The Labor MP said : “I’d better get back to London.”
“This is really important … I’m really pleased with this result. I’m surprised because for a court to make a declaration like that on and issue like this is a huge thing for us.
“It vindicates everything we’ve done last week and I think what I can do and what others need to do is get back to parliament, see if we can’t open those doors and get back in and get Boris Johnson back in parliament so we can hold him properly to account. ”
“Parliament should be immediately reconvened,” said SNP MP Tommy Sheppard, following the ruling by Court of Session judges.
“The prime minister should come back and face the music. ”
“ We feel completely vindicated, ”said Joanne Cherry QC. “I feel confident the Supreme Court will uphold this decision.”
Jo Maugham QC added: “We believe that the effect of the decision is that parliament is no longer prorogued . ”
Our breaking story here:
BREAKING:The Court of Session in Edinburgh has ruled the government suspension of parliament was unlawful.
Chuka Umunnahas raised the possibility No 10 strategist (Dominic Cummingsmay have wrongly carried out work for the Tory party while being paid by the taxpayer.
The Lib Dem MP said it was “clearly unsatisfactory” that he had to wait until December to hear via a freedom of information request whether the prime minister’s right-hand man has broken the rules.
What do you think of the idea of a bridge from Scotland to Northern Ireland?
According to (Channel 4 News) , the civil service drew up feasibility studies examining an ambitious bridge over the Irish Sea during the Tory leadership contest because frontrunner Boris Johnson had express an interest.
Apparently Johnson asked officials if “WW2 munitions in the Irish Sea” could scupper his hopes of getting a bridge.
Labor frontbencher Angela Rayner is not impressed.
Labor MPGareth Snellhas claimed the numbers “simply do not exist in parliament for a referendum”, adding the public had “no appetite” for a second EU poll.
He is one of those in favor of voting for an amended version of Theresa May’s deal.
“The Withdrawal Agreement Bill, which is a very different thing – that was the outcome of the cross-party negotiations – ought to be presented to parliament as a basis on which trying to find a deal. ”
The BBC’s Norman Smith suggests not everyone is clear what the official party line is. For the sake of clarity, Jeremy Corbyn has said he wants a second referendum, but wants credible options for both remain and leave on the ballot.
Nigel Farage‘s repeated calls for an electoral pact with the Tories hasn’t been getting too much media attention. So the Brexit Party has bought a wraparound advert on the front page ofThe Daily Express, and a full page ad inThe Sun.
This morning’sComRespoll showing a one-point lead for the Tories over Labor follows aDeltapollsurvey which also suggested the gap between the big two parties is ******
It found Jeremy Corbyn’s party gaining four points, and only three points behind Boris Johnson’s Conservatives. A separate ComRes poll found Labor would be ahead of the Tories – if an election is held after extending the Brexit deadline beyond (October.
International students will be able to stay in the UK for two years after graduating, to find work, under new proposals announced byBoris Johnson.
We have all the details here.
Labor MPOwen Smith– the former leadership candidate – has said the party “should be clear that Labor doesn’t believe Brexit is a good thing”.
Asked about the argument for which Tom Watson was making the case, Smith told theTodayprogram:
“An argument in principle that there is no such thing as a good Brexit deal , that all versions of Brexit are going to leave Britain poorer and more isolated in the world, and that’s why there is no good reason why Labor should be supporting that.
“It’s at odds with our values, it’s at odds with the electoral interests of the Labor Party and it’s at odds with the prospects for a better future for our constituents.
“So we should be opposed to it and we should be clear that Labor doesn’t believe Brexit is a good thi ng and critically we shouldn’t be bamboozled or bullied by Boris Johnson into going into an election on his terms. ”
German chancellorAngela Merkelhas said there was still “every chance” for a Brexit deal, although Berlin is ready if it doesn’t happen.
“We still have every chance of getting an orderly (Brexit) and the German government will do everything it can to make that possible – right up to the last day. But I also say we are prepared for a disorderly Brexit, ”Merkel told the German parliament.
“ But the fact remains that after the withdrawal of Britain, we have an economic competitor at our door, even if we want to keep close economic, foreign and security cooperation and friendly relations, ”Merkel added.
Labor’s deputy leaderTom Watsonwill call for the party to demand a second Brexit second referendum and it must take place before a general election, in a fresh clash with Jeremy Corbyn.
All the details here.
Business secretaryAndrea Leadsomhas been asked about the prospect of a compromise deal that could see a common agriculture zone across Ireland – the so-called Northern Ireland-only backstop.
“Well we will not do anything that undermines the UK or indeed UK internal market,” she told BBC Radio 4’sTodayprogram.
“So we are looking at getting a deal, getting a good deal that works for the UK and for the EU that is different to the one that was negotiated previously because that couldn’t get through parliament.
“ So our absolute focus is on getting a good deal on October 17 th when the E U Council meets and so we’re looking at creative ways to ensure that there won’t need to be a backstop in that Withdrawal Agreement. ”
DUP leaderArlene Fosterhas warned Boris Johnson that any attempt to solve the crisis by limiting the backstop to apply only to Northern Ireland would be “doomed to failure”.
The latestComRessurvey shows the Tory lead over Labor being cut to just one point. According to the ComRes chairman, it would mean the Conservativeslosingseats in parliament.
Good morning and welcome toThe Independent‘s live coverage of events at Westminster and beyond.
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