Boris Johnson says Supreme Court was wrong
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson goads the opposition, criticises the Supreme Court ruling on proroguing parliament and calls for a vote of no confidence in his government
Footage from Reuters.
Transcript
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The people of this country can see perfectly clearly what is going on. They know that Parliament does not want to honour its promises to respect the referendum. The people at home know that this parliament will keep delaying, it will keep sabotaging the negotiations. Because they don't want a deal. Mr Speaker, the truth is that members opposite are living in a fantasy world.
They really imagine that somehow they are going to cancel - this is what they want to do - that they're going to cancel the first referendum. They're going to legislate for a second referendum. And parliament will promise that this time - that's not the lady opposite - but Parliament will promise that this time it really, really will respect that vote. And they think that the public will therefore vote to remain and everybody will forget the last few years.
Mr Speaker, I have to say I think that is an extraordinary delusion and a fantasy, a fantasy even greater than the communist fantasies peddled by the leader of the opposition.
It will not happen. This government intends to present a programme for life after Brexit. But some members of this House could not stand that either. Instead of facing the voters, the opposition turned tail and fled, and fled from an election. Instead of deciding to let the voters decide, they ran for the courts, instead. And despite the fact that I followed the exact same process as my predecessors in calling a Queen's Speech, The Supreme Court was asked to intervene in this process for the first time ever. And it is absolutely no disrespect to the judiciary to say I think the court was wrong -
- to pronounce on what is essentially a political question at a time...
Order!
It would be a curious state of affairs indeed if Her Majesty's loyal opposition had every faith in the government of the day. So if, in fact, the party opposite does not have confidence in the government, they will have a chance to prove it. They have until the House rises. Let them - listen, listen, listen, listen, listen, listen. I think they should listen to this, Mr Speaker. They have until the house rises today to table a motion of no confidence in the government.
Come on! Come on! Come on, then! And we can have that vote tomorrow. Or if any of the other parties, the smaller parties, fancy a go, they can table that motion. And we'll give you the time for a vote.
I thank the prime minister for an advanced copy of his statement. Unfortunately, it was, like his illegal shutting down of Parliament, null, of no effect, and should be quashed,
in the words of the Supreme Court. This, Mr Speaker, was ten minutes of bluster from a dangerous prime minister who thinks he is above the law, but in truth, Mr Speaker in truth, Mr Speaker, he's not fit for the office which he holds.
Mr Speaker, he says he wants a general election. I want a general election.
It's very simple. If you want an election, if he wants an election, get an extension and let's have an election.