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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Politics
Jacob Jarvis

John Bercow tells MPs to return to Parliament tomorrow morning after Boris Johnson's prorogation was ruled unlawful

John Bercow has announced Parliament will resume tomorrow after Boris Johnson's prorogation was ruled unlawful.

He said MPs would return at 11.30am in light of the Supreme Court decision, which was backed unanimously by 11 judges.

Mr Bercow said there would be no Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday but there would be scope for urgent questions, ministerial statements and emergency debate applications.

The Speaker said:"In the light of that explicit judgment, I have instructed the House authorities to prepare not for the recall - the prorogation was unlawful and is void - to prepare for the resumption of the business of the House of Commons.

"Specifically I have instructed the House authorities to undertake such steps as are necessary to ensure that the House of Commons sits tomorrow, that it does so at 11.30am."

John Bercow addresses reporters outside the Houses of Parliament (AFP/Getty Images)

The judges today said Parliament is free to return to sit at Westminster because the Prime Minister’s advice to the Queen was invalid.

“Parliament has not been prorogued,” said Lady Hale, president of the Supreme Court.

Boris Johnson's prorogation of Parliament was deemed unlawful (AFP/Getty Images)

The ruling stated: “The decision to advise Her Majesty to prorogue Parliament was unlawful because it had the effect of frustrating or preventing the ability of Parliament to carry out its constitutional functions.”

It has prompted calls from the opposition for the PM to resign, with the opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn telling him to "consider his position".

Mr Corbyn addressed the Labour Party conference and said: "The Supreme Court has just announced its decision and it shows that the Prime Minister has acted wrongly in shutting down Parliament.

"It demonstrates a contempt for democracy and an abuse of power by him.

"I invited Boris Johnson in the historic words to consider his position."

Mr Corbyn has also brought forward his keynote speech at his party conference forward to this afternoon in light of the situation.

Brexit select committee chairman Hilary Benn called for an apology from the Prime Minister and also said Mr Johnson should think about resigning.

Speaking to the Standard about the Supreme Court ruling, Mr Benn said: “I think the Prime Minister at the very least owes Parliament an apology.”

Asked about calls for Boris Johnson to resign, he said: “Of course he should consider his position.

“For me, the most important thing is we must get back to work.

“There is so much to question the Prime Minister on.

“There’s lots of work for MPs to do.”

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