The ruling by the UK Supreme Court is a devastating indictment of the abuse of power by a prime minister — and of the holder of that office, Boris Johnson. The 11 judges unanimously concluded that Mr Johnson’s five-week suspension of parliament was an unlawful attempt to silence MPs, at the very moment the UK, through Brexit, faces the biggest shake-up in its constitutional status for decades. Mr Johnson’s claim that the suspension was a routine break before a new legislative session stands exposed. The judges found the prime minister in effect misled MPs, the British people, and the Queen. No future premier will be able to act this way again. The judges’ ruling marks a historic moment in the evolution of the UK constitution.
英国最高法院(Supreme Court)的裁决是对首相滥权行为——以及对现任首相鲍里斯•约翰逊(Boris Johnson)——的有力谴责。11名法官一致认为，约翰逊让议会休会5周的决定，是企图让议员们保持沉默的非法行为——而且还是在英国因退欧而面临几十年来最严重的宪法地位动荡之际。约翰逊声称，此次休会是新一个立法会期开始前的例行休息。法官们认定，约翰逊实际上误导了国会议员、英国人民和女王。未来再没有首相可以如此行事。法官的裁决标志着英国宪法的演变经历了一个历史性时刻。