Boris Johnson warns of ‘catastrophic damage’ if John Major and Gina Miller succeed at stopping Brexit in the courts
BORIS Johnson has warned of “catastrophic damage” to politics if John Major and Gina Miller succeed in stopping Breixt in the courts.
The ex-PM this morning announced his plans to fight Boris’ shut down of Parliament with Remainer lawyer Gina Miller.
Tory grandee Major said in a statement: “I promised that, if the Prime Minister prorogued Parliament in order to prevent Members from opposing his Brexit plans, I would seek judicial review of his action.
He added: “If granted permission to intervene, I intend to seek to assist the Court from the perspective of having served in Government as a Minister and Prime Minister, and also in Parliament for many years as a Member of the House of Commons.”
He even said he could give evidence in court to help the case.
And this lunchtime Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson joined the pact too, saying Boris’ plan was an “affront to democracy”.
Leftie Mr Watson added: “The rights and freedoms of our citizens have been vandalised.
“This is an abuse of power that can and should be stopped.”
Their case will be heard in the High Court in London next Thursday.
MAJOR MOVE
I promised that, if the Prime Minister prorogued Parliament in order to prevent Mermbers from opposing his Brexit plans, I would seek judicial review of his action.
John Major
But the PM hit back against Remainers trying to stop Brexit today, saying it was making the chances of a deal even less likely.
And it would be their fault if we ended up leaving with a deal, he added.
Speaking to the media as he geared up for the battle for Brexit in Parliament next week, he said: “I’m afraid that the more our friends and partners think, at the back of their mind, that Brexit could be stopped, that the UK could be kept in by Parliament, the less likely they are to give us the deal that we need.
“If we frustrate that mandate, if we stop the UK from leaving on October 31, if that’s what parliamentarians end up doing, it will do lasting damage to people’s trust in politics.
“It will do lasting and catastrophic damage to the major parties in this country and I think this political generation won’t be forgiven for failing to honour that promise.”
Thousands protested outside Downing Street this week after Boris revealed his plan to shut down Parliament for five weeks in September and October.
And even more are set to take to the streets tomorrow after a call from leftie activist group Momentum.
Jeremy Corbyn backed the demands for Brits to take to the streets, shut down bridges and block roads in protest at the plans.
The move to close Parliament has infuriated Remainer MPs who now have even less time to mobilise to stop a No Deal exit before the 31 October.
However, they will push ahead with their plans to try and pass new laws to prevent it as soon as Parliament is back next week.
The leftie boss still wants to bring a vote of no confidence in Boris Johnson – but won’t do so until he thinks he can win it.
Tories say they will only bring down their own Government as a last resort.
BREXIT LEGAL BID
As Boris prepares for Major and Miller’s challenge an anti-Brexit bid in Scotland has been delivered a blow.
A cross-party group of 70 MPs and activists had their case heard at the Court of Session in Edinburgh this morning,
The group of MPs demanded an interim interdict – or short term suspension – of the PM’s decision to shut down the House of Commons for more than a month.
But it was denied by Lord Judge Doherty and a full hearing on the matter will be heard next week.
I’m not satisfied that it has been demonstrated that there’s a need for an interim suspension or an interim interdict to be granted at this stage.
Lord Judge Doherty
A substantive hearing was due to take place on September 6 but will be brought forward to Tuesday “in the interest of justice”.
Aiden O’Neill QC, representing those for the action, had argued for the substantive hearing to be moved forward.
He said: “There is an urgency to this – any delay is prejudicial – not just to the prejudice of the petitioners, but to the country as a whole.”
Lord Doherty said: “I’m going to move the substantive hearing forward to Tuesday.
“Weighing consideration in the balance, it’s in the interest of justice that it proceeds sooner rather than later.”
MOST READ IN POLITICS
The legal challenge was being led by SNP MP Joanna Cherry QC and Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson, aided by Labour MP Ian Murray and Jo Maugham of the Good Law Project.
Responding to Lord Doherty’s decision , a government spokesperson said: “As we have set out, the government needs to bring forward a strong domestic legislative agenda and MPs are not prevented from scrutinising our withdrawal from the EU.
“We are glad the court found against the interdict – there was no good reason to seek one, given the full hearing is due to take place next week, and the process of bringing the session to an end will not start until the week commencing September 9.”
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