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British PM Johnson Faces Fight for Political Survival

Henry Ridgwell

   LONDON - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is fighting for his
   political survival following a ruling from Britain's Supreme Court
   Tuesday that his decision to suspend Parliament earlier this month was
   unlawful.

   The ruling means British lawmakers will return to Parliament Wednesday,
   as calls grow for Johnson's resignation. Britain is still due to leave
   the European Union Oct. 31, although that so-called Brexit process has
   now been thrown into further doubt.

   The 11 Supreme Court judges ruled unanimously against Johnson, a
   decision they described as "a judgment on the boundaries of government
   power."

   "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," Brenda Hale, head of the Supreme Court, said
   Tuesday morning.

   The Supreme Court's decision that Johnson acted illegally in advising
   the queen to suspend Parliament is a political earthquake that has
   shaken the pillars of British democracy.

   Meeting U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United
   Nations General Assembly in New York Tuesday, Johnson remained defiant.

   "We respect the judiciary in our country. We respect the court. I
   disagree profoundly with what they had to say. And frankly, I think we
   need to get on with Brexit," Johnson said.

   Trump offered words of support.

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