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Britain's Supreme Court enters Brexit crisis

September 17, 2019
Demonstrators protest outside the Supreme Court in central London on Tuesday, the first day of the hearing into the decision by the government to prorogue parliament. -AFP
Demonstrators protest outside the Supreme Court in central London on Tuesday, the first day of the hearing into the decision by the government to prorogue parliament. -AFP

LONDON - Britain's Supreme Court will begin considering legal challenges Tuesday to Prime Minister Boris Johnson's controversial decision to suspend parliament for over a month, as the country's political crisis over Brexit intensifies.

The court is set to hear three days of arguments over Johnson's move to shutter the House of Commons last week until October 14 -- just two weeks before the country is scheduled to leave the European Union.

The politically-charged case, unprecedented in Britain, could lead to parliament being recalled and Johnson's political hand severely weakened in the run-up to the October 31 departure date.

The timing of any ruling is uncertain.

"I think the best thing I could do is wait and see what the judges say," Johnson told the BBC.

The prime minister added he had the "greatest respect for the judiciary" and that its independence "is one of the glories of the UK" amid heightened speculation he might try to ignore an order to recall lawmakers.

Johnson will chair a cabinet meeting Tuesday morning, the day after holding his first talks with European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker and top EU negotiator Michel Barnier.

Following the meeting in Luxembourg he insisted there remained a "good chance" of striking a new divorce deal -- if there was "movement" from the bloc.

But Juncker's office appeared more pessimistic, saying Johnson was reminded that Britain must "come forward with legally operational solutions" to the existing agreement struck by his predecessor Theresa May.

"Such proposals have not yet been made," it said.

The Supreme Court's entry into the three-and-a-half year saga stems from Johnson's "do or die" promise to deliver Brexit without any further delay.

He suspended parliament for five weeks in what his critics cry was a blatant bid to keep his pro-European opponents from trying to get it further postponed.

The government counters that parliament is usually dissolved yearly and that Johnson was simply clearing the way for a new agenda following May's resignation in July.

"Our case is that prorogation was for an entirely proper purpose," Justice Secretary Robert Buckland told Sky News on Tuesday.

The Supreme Court has called in 11 of its 12 judges to hear the case. -AFP


September 17, 2019
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