Court battle deepens over Boris Johnson’s decision to halt UK parliamentary activities

The row over the legality of Boris Johnson’s decision to suspend parliament will return to the supreme court later for a second day.

The prime minister suspended parliament for five weeks earlier this month, saying he wanted a queen’s speech to outline his new policies.

But critics say Mr Johnson was instead trying to stop the scrutiny of members of parliament in the run-up to Brexit on 31 October.

Two cases about the prorogation are now being appealed in the court.

But government lawyer Lord Keen QC said the PM had been entitled to act as he did and the issue was not one for the courts.

During the first day of the hearing, businesswoman Gina Miller and others campaigned against the prime minister’s move, said the suspension had been done to silence members of parliament ahead of Brexit and was an unlawful abuse of power.