EU parliament Brexit chief goads Boris Johnson over Supreme Court defeat: ‘Brexiteers can never say again the EU is undemocratic’

Guy Verhofstadt says Supreme Court decision to restore parliament is ‘big relief’

Boris Johnson can never again accuse the EU of being “undemocratic” following Tuesday’s Supreme Court judgment, the European parliament’s Brexit chief has said.

Guy Verhofstadt said the decision to rule Mr Johnson’s suspension of parliament as unlawful was a “big relief in the Brexit saga”.

As the news broke in London, a spokesperson for the European Commission meanwhile declined the comment on the ruling, stating that it was an internal matter for the UK.

“We’ve all seen the news of course, but it is not for us to comment on the internal constitutional matters of member states, and this includes the United Kingdom,” the spokesperson told reporters in Brussels on Tuesday afternoon.

The spokesperson answered diplomatically when asked whether Brussels considered Mr Johnson to be a reliable negotiating partner, given the ruling against him.

“As we’ve said, many times before – our interlocutor is the government of the United Kingdom and that remains the case. For all other judgements I leave them to you,” she said.

But Mr Verhofstadt, the Brexit lead for the EU’s elected legislature, goaded the prime minister over the decision.

“At least one big relief in the Brexit saga: the rule of law in the UK is alive and kicking. Parliaments should never be silenced in a real democracy,” he said.

“I never want to hear Boris Johnson or any other Brexiteer say again that the European Union is undemocratic.”

Speaking in Germany on Tuesday, Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, did not react directly to the ruling – but said he saw no cause for “optimism” in talks today.

David Sassoli, the president of the European parliament, welcomed the court’s ruling.

“Important decision from UK Supreme Court to rule prorogation of parliament as unlawful,” he told The Independent.

“Any Brexit agreement needs to be approved by both UK and EU parliament, so proper democratic scrutiny on both sides of the Channel is essential.”

The UK Supreme Court ruled that Mr Johnson’s decision to suspend parliament was “unlawful, void, and of no effect”. Lady Hale, the court’s president, said that “parliament has not been prorogued. This is the unanimous judgment of all 11 justices”.

UK officials have confirmed that UK negotiators will be heading back to Brussels on Wednesday for more talks about replacing the Irish backstop.