UK Supreme Court rules PM Johnson's suspension of parliament was unlawful

-- Court rules PM Johnson acted unlawfully

-- Court says parliament has not been prorogued

-- House speaker Bercow says Commons must return immediately

The United Kingdom's Supreme Court ruled today that Prime Minister Boris Johnson had acted unlawfully when he advised Queen Elizabeth to suspend parliament weeks before Brexit - and that therefore the suspension was void.

The ruling paves the way for legislators to return to parliament, where Johnson has no majority. It could give lawmakers, most of whom are opposed to leaving the EU without a divorce agreement as he has threatened to do, further opportunity to impede his strategy.

"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," Supreme Court President Brenda Hale said.

"Parliament has not been prorogued. This is the unanimous judgment of all 11 justices," she added. "It is for parliament, and in particular the speaker and the (House of) Lords speaker, to decide what to do next."

Parliament was suspended, or prorogued in the British jargon, from September 10 to October 14. The prorogation was approved by Queen Elizabeth, Britain's politically neutral head of state, on the advice of the prime minister.

HOUSE OF COMMONS TO SIT TOMORROW

Britain's lower house of parliament, the House of Commons, will sit on Wednesday after the Supreme Court ruled Prime Minister Boris Johnson's suspension of parliament was unlawful, Commons Speaker John Bercow said.

"I have instructed the House authorities to prepare not for the recall - the prorogation was unlawful and is void - to prepare for the resumption of the business of the House of Commons," he told reporters.

"Specifically, I've instructed the House authorities to undertake such steps as are necessary to ensure that the House of Commons sits tomorrow and that it does so at 11:30 am, (1030GMT) " he added.

Bercow said the regular Wednesday session of Prime Minister's Questions would not take place.

"However, for the avoidance of doubt there will be full scope for urgent questions, for ministerial statements and for applications for emergency debates," he added.

Johnson is currently scheduled to be in New York on Wednesday where he is attending the United Nations General Assembly.