Boris Johnson has denied lying to the Queen over the suspension of Parliament, insisting such claims were “absolutely not” true.
The Prime Minister, asked whether he lied to the monarch after the Court of Session in Edinburgh said advice given by ministers to the Queen which led to the five-week prorogation was “unlawful”, said: “Absolutely not.
“The High Court in England plainly agrees with us but the Supreme Court will have to decide.
“We need a Queen’s Speech, we need to get on and do all sorts of things at a national level.”
He added: “Parliament will have time both before and after that crucial summit on October 17th and 18th to talk about the Brexit deal.
“I’m very hopeful that we will get a deal, as I say, at that crucial summit. We’re working very hard – I’ve been around the European capitals talking to our friends
“I think we can see the rough area of a landing space, of how you can do it – it will be tough, it will be hard, but I think we can get there.”
PM urged to recall Parliament after Operation Yellowhammer documents released
Mr Johnson made the comments as he visited NLV Pharos, a lighthouse tender, which is moored alongside HMS Belfast on the Thames for London International Shipping Week.
He stated that he would not “quarrel or criticise” the judges in the Scottish court case as he insisted they are independent.
He said: “The British judiciary, the United Kingdom judiciary, is one of the great glories of our constitution – they are independent.
“Believe me, around the world people look at our judges with awe and admiration, so I’m not going to quarrel or criticise the judges.
“Clearly there are two different legal views – the High Court in England had a very different opinion and the Supreme Court will have to adjudicate in the course of the next few days, and I think it’s proper for politicians to let them get on and do that.”
The PM also sought to downplay the impact of a no-deal Brexit following the release of Operation Yellowhammer assessments.
He said: “It is very important to understand what this document is: this is a worst-case scenario which civil servants obviously have to prepare for, but in the last few months, and particularly in the 50 days since I’ve been Prime Minister, we’ve been massively accelerating our preparations.
“We’re trying to get a deal and I’m very hopeful that we will get a deal with our European friends on October 17th or 18th or thereabouts.
“But if we have to come out on October 31st with no-deal we will be ready and the ports will be ready and the farming communities will be ready, and all the industries that matter will be ready for a no-deal Brexit.
“What you’re looking at here is just the sensible preparations – the worst-case scenario – that you’d expect any government to do.
“In reality we will certainly be ready for a no-deal Brexit if we have to do it and I stress again that’s not where we intend to end up.”
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