Rt Hon Sir John Major's legal team react to verdict

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP are pleased to confirm that we acted for The Rt Hon Sir John Major KG CH in relation to the litigation in the Supreme Court concerning the prorogation of Parliament.  As our client contended, the judges have taken the view that it was unlawful for the Prime Minister to advise HM The Queen that Parliament should be prorogued in the way that he did.

Andrew Lidbetter, Herbert Smith Freehills Partner, said:

"This is plainly a case of fundamental constitutional importance in relation to the relationship between Parliament, the executive and the Courts.  We are pleased that the Supreme Court has found that 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 without reasonable justification. When reaching its conclusions, the Court specifically referred to the unchallenged evidence of Sir John regarding the usual time it takes to draft a Queen's Speech."

The Supreme Court's full ruling can be viewed here.