The Supreme Court’s judgement that the suspension of parliament for five weeks earlier this month was unlawful has signaled ‘more political upheaval’, according to the BMA.
The court ruled unanimously today that the Government’s decision to prorogue parliament until the Queen’s speech on 14 October was unlawful.
Supreme Court president, Lady Hale, said: ‘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.’
The BMA said the decision comes at a time when there is still ‘so much uncertainty’ surrounding Brexit.
BMA council chair, Dr Chaand Nagpaul, said: ‘The Supreme Court’s ruling that the prorogation of parliament was unlawful signals more political upheaval as the UK moves toward the Brexit deadline of October 31.
‘With so much uncertainty still surrounding the UK’s departure from the EU, this ruling will at least allow politicians to get back to work on key issues such as EU immigration arrangements and scrutiny of the Government’s no-deal preparations, which stand to have a significant and lasting impact on our health service, patients and staff.’
As a result of the ruling, parliament will resume on 25 September.
It follows the news that no-deal Brexit could close down practices, according to RCGP chair Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard.
