See You in Court, Boris Johnson’s Prorogation on Trial

DAY IN COURT - Britain’s most senior judges consider whether the prime minister broke the law by suspending parliament in the run-up to Brexit Day. The Supreme Court hearing on cases brought by MPs and activists furious at Boris Johnson’s prorogation of parliament kicks off at 10.30 a.m., with SW1 on tenterhooks to see if parliament could yet be recalled early. The legal arguments are expected to run for three days, meaning we are unlikely to get a verdict before Thursday afternoon at the earliest. But the ramifications of what the court decides could have huge implications for Johnson’s tenure as PM; for the final Brexit outcome; and for Britain’s wider constitutional settlement.

The ABC could have gone to the hearing today or at least applied for one of the positions as we are on the Supreme Courts presser list. 

ABC Note: We have tended to stay out of the Brexit arguments though ABC founder Simon Collyer has been commenting on Brexit in a personal capacity on Facebook.

The country is bitterly divided, and many opinions are presented as fact. Both sides are right - we should respect a referendum decision, but all the deals so far put the UK in a much worse position. A No-Deal Brexit could be a potential disaster for those on fixed incomes. Neither side will be a winner. The continentals linked to the UK businesswise are worried about their futures and so are the ex. Pat community who in general cannot vote in a referendum due to archaic regulations. Pushing ahead is very likely to break up the UK. It will be a pyrrhic victory The Irish are very worried about the suggestion of Northern Ireland being governed from London and a border reappearing. The DUP will not accept a border in the Irish Sea. Trouble in Northern Ireland could once again spread to the mainland, where it was draining the UK coffers in the '70s. Trade with the US will see the influx of standards and US corporations. However, trade with the US could not make up for the trade we do with our nearest neighbors. Tariffs cut business adding a duty to products. Regulatory issues will emerge in dealing with 28 individual countries. Our products with alternatively sourced ingredients may not meet EU standards, a perfect opportunity for EU based organizations to keep out British competition. Larger firms along with the financial community will relocate. There is overcapacity in the car market and steel and power industry will all have issues.

Travel and freedom of movement will become more complex and more difficult. We will have to pay out fees to complete forms and get permissions.

The pound will fall to stop capital flight out of the UK.

It could see the end of cherished NHS as we know it and the eventual introduction of private health insurance. With a shrinking economy, this will be necessary. The UK has the lowest levels of worker protection and we rank a lowly 16th already in terms of the generosity of our state pensions. These protections could be lowered still further and wages for the poorest could drop for us to remain competitive as our prices will have duties added to them and imports will shoot up raising prices. Our poor could become poor like those in Brazil or South Africa. And crime could increase still further as desperate people seek the means to survive, and we do not have the revenue to fund an effective police force.

This is not Project Fear. Taking back control means handing control to the US for which the UK was always a puppet and to the World Trade Organisation. As a member of the EU, we could vote on issues and influence other member states. However, we like it... if we want to sell to the EU or the US they will tell us under what terms they offer us.

Scotland will want to jump ship and this could cause companies to relocate to Scotland if they remain in the EU, Northern Ireland could unite with Southern Ireland and stay in. Wales that gets a lot of EU support might also want to leave the United Kingdom.

The academic sector will be hit due to losing access to EU grants, declining demand from students in choosing the UK as a place to study and our universities will lose the opportunity to take part in the many collaboration projects they are already involved in. At least three universities are almost underwater and we might see a shrinking of student places if universities close. 

The loss of access to intelligence to EU databases will render the Police likely to be less effective in combating international crime and terrorism. When Spain stopped cooperating with the UK over Gibraltar the Costa del Crime became a haven for UK criminals to escape justice. We may see other effects of leaving the EU. 

We will see but we need to move forward. The prognosis for the bottom fifth looks poor. We understand peoples frustration with the EU, migrants reshaping whole communities and wage competition in less skilled jobs, but the cure may be worse than the disease, this is our fear. But then what do we know...? 

ABC comment, have your say below: