Scotland’s highest court rules UK PM's decision to suspend parliament as ‘unlawful’

Overturning an earlier ruling of the court, Scotland’s highest civil court has ruled that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s decision to suspend the parliament is unlawful.

A panel of three judges at the Court of Session chaired by Lord Carloway, Scotland's most senior judge, announced the verdict on Wednesday, international media reported. "The prime minister's advice to HM the Queen and the prorogation which followed thereon was unlawful and is thus null and of no effect,"the ruling stated.

The judges also ruled that Johnson's decision to suspend parliament was unlawful 'because it had the purpose of stymying parliament'. The full judgment of the panel will be released on Friday.

Last week, London’s high court had rejected businesswoman and anti-Brexit activist Gina Miller’s petition challenging the UK PM's decision to suspend parliament. The court ruled the decision as lawful. The court had also ruled that Miller could approach the Supreme Court for an appeal. The appeal is expected to be heard at the SC on September 17.

The British PM has vowed to leave the European Union on October 31.