A LEGAL bid to challenge the suspension of parliament has succeeded at the highest appeal court in Edinburgh.

A group of around 70 parliamentarians had appealed against a ruling by a judge at the court that Boris Johnson's prorogation of Parliament is lawful.

Judge Lord Doherty originally dismissed a challenge against the suspension - which went ahead in the early hours of Tuesday - at the Court of Session last Wednesday, saying it is for politicians and not the courts to decide.

But three judges of the Inner House, the supreme civil court in Scotland, disagreed with Lord Doherty's ruling.

A UK Government spokesman said: "We are disappointed by today's decision, and will appeal to the UK Supreme Court.

"The UK Government needs to bring forward a strong domestic legislative agenda. Proroguing Parliament is the legal and necessary way of delivering this."

The Northern Echo: Liberal Democrats MP Luciana BergerLiberal Democrats MP Luciana Berger

Liberal Democrats MP Luciana Berger tweeted: "As one of the Petitioners to this case, this is such an important ruling - although how awful that it's had to come to this. "

SNP Westminiter leader Ian Blackford tweeted: "This is great news, congratulations to you and all involved. This battle has further to run but my message to @BorisJohnson is you are playing fast and loose with the law. You have acted in an anti democratic manner and need to respond by recalling Parliament."

Jolyon Maugham QC, the anti-Brexit barrister who was second petitioner in the case, said the Supreme Court would hear the case next week.

He tweeted: "We have won. Appeal begins in the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

"We believe that the effect of the decision is that Parliament is no longer prorogued.

"I have never been able to contemplate the possibility that the law could be that our sovereign Parliament might be treated as an inconvenience by the Prime Minister.

"I am pleased that Scotland's highest court agrees. But ultimately, as has always been the case, it's the final arbiter's decision that matters.

"We will convene again in the Supreme Court next week."

The Northern Echo: Labour MP Ian Murray. Picture: PA WireLabour MP Ian Murray. Picture: PA Wire

Labour MP Ian Murray tweeted: "Great result from the Court of Session. The contempt that the PM has shown to Parliament and the public is unprecedented. The advice given to the Queen was not the reason wanted for a 5 week prorogation."

A summary of the court opinion, published by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, states: "The Inner House of the Court of Session has ruled that the Prime Minister's advice to HM the Queen that the United Kingdom Parliament should be prorogued from a day between 9 and 12 September until 14 October was unlawful because it had the purpose of stymying Parliament."

It continues: "All three First Division judges have decided that the PM's advice to the HM the Queen is justiciable, that it was motivated by the improper purpose of stymying Parliament and that it, and what has followed from it, is unlawful."

It went on: "The Court will accordingly make an Order declaring that the Prime Minister's advice to HM the Queen and the prorogation which followed thereon was unlawful and is thus null and of no effect."

At the hearing, Judge Lord Carloway told the court: "We are of the opinion that the advice given by the Government to her majesty the Queen to prorogue parliament was unlawful and that the prorogation itself was unlawful."

He referred the matter to the UK Supreme Court for resolution.

Campaigners said their understanding is that Parliament can now reassemble if it so wishes.

The Northern Echo: Liberal Democrat leader Jo SwinsonLiberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson

Liberal Democrat leader, Jo Swinson, tweeted: "Scottish judges have found in favour of 75 MPs (including me and other Liberal Democrats.)

"We argued that Boris Johnson's Parliament shutdown is illegal, and designed to stifle parliamentary debate and action on Brexit."

The Northern Echo: Labour party deputy leader Tom Watson gives a speech on the creative industries and Brexit to the Creative Industries Federation at Somerset House in London. Picture: PALabour party deputy leader Tom Watson gives a speech on the creative industries and Brexit to the Creative Industries Federation at Somerset House in London. Picture: PA

Tom Watson has criticised Parliament's suspension after a it was ruled unlawful at the appeal court in Edinburgh.

After being told of the ruling after his speech to the Creative Industries Federation, Labour's deputy leader said: "Whatever the legalities of it, and it does seem to me, and I hear this on the doorstep of West Bromwich, the idea that you would ask MPs to go on a month-long gardening leave... at the point when we are near the disaster of no-deal, I think people are just astounded at that.

"What they expect us to be doing is working seven days a week, Saturday and Sunday, night and day, sitting down at the table to find a compromise position that gets us out of it."