Politics

Scots court set to rule if Boris Johnson is in contempt over extension letter to EU


Three senior judges at the Court of Session will hear allegations that the Prime Minister broke a promise he made to the court that he would not try to sabotage an extension request. The UK Government’s lawyers gave assurances earlier this month that Mr Johnson would honour the key provision of the Benn Act if no withdrawal deal was agreed by October 19.

After losing Saturday’s knife-edge Commons vote, the Prime Minister sent an unsigned copy of the letter required by the act.

But he also sent a signed letter to Brussels that explicitly asked EU leaders not to agree to another delay.

The case, brought by anti-Brexit campaigners, was previously suspended to see how the political debate “played out”.

The court planned to resume today.

Opponents claimed Mr Johnson flouted the spirit of the act by trying to “frustrate” its objective.

SNP MP Joanna Cherry branded his approach “pathetic”, adding: “As a matter of law it is arguable that the Prime Minister’s signed letter seeks to frustrate what the Benn Act sets out to do. The principle of frustration is well recognised in law.

“When we were in court in Edinburgh the Prime Minister gave promises that not only would he obey the Benn Act but that he would not seek to frustrate it.

“Now arguably that is what he has done.”



READ SOURCE

Leave a Reply

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.