Thursday 19 September 2019

And now we wait

The third and final day at the Supreme Court today, hearing #miller2. We will not get a verdict or judgement until early next week.

It is too close to call.

But if the Government wins, any PM would have the right to suspend Parliament, any time, for any period, with no good reason, and it would not be against the law.

Brexiteers might be wanting the judgement to go Johnson's way, but this could have ramification years, decades down the line, when someone even more unscrupulous than Johnson suspends Parliament to stop a bill, or impeachment proceedings.

Of course, once Parliament sits, it can pass a law saying that any prorogation in the future would have to be approved by Parliament.

And that would be that.

But, as through the Brexit process, the desire to drive it through by either May or Johnson has served just to define and limit the so-called Henry VIII powers inherited.

If ever this country returns to normal, then that will be important.

But it the rule of law no longer applies to the executive, we might never return to normal, and will see pre-2016 as some kind of Shangri-La.

Which it was.

So, with no Parliament sitting, the next few days will be quiet, and then we shall see.

We shall see.

No comments: