Protesters call for Prime Minister to quit following Supreme Court ruling

Protesters call for Prime Minister to quit following Supreme Court ruling

Protesters outside the Supreme Court erupted into cheers and chants of “Johnson out” as it was ruled that the Prime Minister’s prorogation of Parliament for five weeks was unlawful.

A P45 placard with Boris Johnson’s details and a man wearing a model of his head in an inmate’s striped clothing both arrived at the UK’s highest court during heavy rain on Tuesday morning.

Protesters watched a live stream of the proceedings inside on mobile phones, as a panel of 11 justices gave their ruling on the legality of the Prime Minister’s advice to the Queen to prorogue Parliament until October 14.

Brexit
A protester holds a giant P45 with Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s name on it (Emma Bowden/PA)

“There was real excitement, and even before Lady Hale gave her final ruling it was quite clear how it was going,” he told the PA news agency.

“Parliament should have never been closed in the first place so it’s great that the doors are reopening and our elected representatives can do the job they were elected to do.”

Heavy downpours did not dampen the spirits of protesters outside, as some posed for selfies with SNP’s Ian Blackford, Change UK leader Anna Soubry and MP Caroline Lucas.

Susan Rogers, 70, said: “I am really pleased, I assumed that they would come to this verdict.

“It really shocked me the liberties that were taken, with the lies and with the prorogation of Parliament.”

Brexit
Protesters celebrating outside the Supreme Court in London (Jonathan Brady/PA)

One person who sat in the Supreme Court’s overspill room for the ruling said members of the public had been queuing since 5am.

Sam Russell, a comedian from London, called being in the court building “quite exciting”.

“I mean, if you told me three years ago I’d be waking up at 8am to go and see a judgment at the Supreme Court I would have told you that you were mad,” the 30-year-old told PA.

“That’s the only silver lining about all this, it’s making people become a lot more politically savvy and engaged and aware.”

But not all protesters were pleased by the ruling against Mr Johnson, with one man claiming the Supreme Court judges have a “vested interest”.

Another called the case a “stalling tactic” for Brexit.

Holding a Union Flag umbrella, Joel, who declined to give his surname, told PA: “It’s just stalling Brexit and all the underhand tactics of both sides really is just embarrassing.

“They’re not representing the people, it doesn’t matter what side you’re all on, they’re all out for themselves.”

Referring to the current political climate, he added: “Everybody has become so toxic with each other, when you look at both sides.

“Not killing each other but it feels like it, it’s gone nuts.

“It reminds me of the Civil War in America.”

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