David Watts

Liberal Democrat Councillor For Bramcote, Parliamentary Spokesperson for Newark, Editor of Challenge Magazine for the Green Liberal Democrats and Crime and Policing Spokesperson for Nottinghamshire Learn more

The Supreme Court and the Rule of Law

by David Watts on 26 September, 2019

The Supreme Court is the top court in this country. Its 12 members are the best legal brains that we have. It is their job to uphold the law without fear or favour. That is exactly what they have done this week. They were asked to look at whether Boris Johnsons decision to prorogue parliament was lawful. All eleven of them who sat on the case ruled that it was not.

Let that sink in for a moment. All eleven judges, irrespective of which political party they support, irrespective of their views on Brexit, having heard the arguments put forward by the government, ruled that the prime minister had acted unlawfully. All eleven. No dissention, no dispute. Boris Johnson acted unlawfully.

How did the prime minister react to this. “I think that they were wrong.” Sorry Boris but it doesn’t work like that. The law is the law and they are the final arbiter on what it is. Boris Johnson has no legal training. Asking him to give a view on a legal ruling is about as useful as asking him to service your car. He simply doesn’t have the training for it. His disagreement with them is irrelevant. They have said that the law is clear and that is their job.

What we should have had from the prime minister was an unreserved apology, and given the enormity of this ruling, he should resign forthwith. I won’t hold my breath though.

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