Welsh MPs return to Commons after historic Supreme Court ruling

Welsh MPs have returned to the Commons, after the historic Supreme Court ruling which found Boris Johnson's suspension of Parliament was unlawful.

Justices unanimously ruled the prorogation was "of no effect".

Boris Johnson told MPs the Supreme Court was "wrong to pronounce on a political question at a time of great national controversy".

He dared Labour to call a vote of no confidence - one Welsh Labour MP said it was "desperate stuff".

Wednesday's proceedings saw angry exchanges on the floor of the commons as politicians discussed the Supreme Court decision.

The UK government's chief law officer, Attorney General Geoffrey Cox, said ministers acted in "good faith" when they suspended Parliament.

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"It would be a curious state of affairs indeed if Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition had every faith in the government of the day," Mr Johnson said.

"So if the party opposite does not in fact have confidence in the government, they will have a chance to prove it.

"They have until the House rises today to table a motion of no confidence in the government, and we can have that vote tomorrow."

The opposition has refused to grant a general election until a no-deal Brexit is taken off the table.

"Johnson's statement is lightweight ya boo," said Hywel Williams, Plaid Cymru MP for Arfon.

"[It] might just about be enough for Eton schoolboys, but not the choice for a serious backbench politician let alone a Prime Minister. Worthless - like the man."

"Desperate stuff. Boris Johnson truly is a disgrace to the office of Prime Minister," tweeted Stephen Doughty, Labour MP for Cardiff South and Penarth.

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Welsh MPs in Labour and Plaid Cymru, as well as independent Guto Bebb and Welsh Liberal Democrat Jane Dodds, have assisted opposition efforts to take control of Parliament.

That led to legislation, passed before prorogation, aimed at preventing a no-deal exit on 31 October.

Liz Saville Roberts, Westminster leader of Plaid Cymru, said the priority of opposition parties was "to stop a no-deal Brexit because that would be disastrous".

She said Parliament had "failed spectacularly" and added: "We need to go back to the people. Our resolution will be democracy in the form of a referendum."

Mr Doughty said MPs should not agree a recess for the Conservative Party conference, which begins on 29 September.

"In my view Parliament has returned from its gagged status by the prime minister. We should not be in any way then disappearing off again," he said.

"He should be able to work around that like anybody else. Let's not forget the SNP and Plaid Cymru don't get recesses for their conferences in any case."

Jo Stevens, Labour MP for Cardiff Central, said MPs would spend "the next week or so" asking Mr Johnson "about many issues he has escaped scrutiny on by unlawfully suspending Parliament".

She said he had questions to answer on EU negotiations, claims he failed to declare a potential conflict of interest while London mayor, arms exports to Saudi Arabia, the Domestic Abuse Bill and Thomas Cook.

On Tuesday, Conservative MP David TC Davies said he stood with Mr Johnson "who is doing everything possible to deliver on the clear result of a referendum in the face of a powerful pro-EU establishment".

The Monmouth MP said: "Let's have a general election. That would be a good remedy. Look forward to it."

Andrew RT Davies, Conservative AM for South Wales Central, added: "We have a prime minister who wants to go to the country, so the ultimate judges in this country can cast their vote as to who they want to run this country."

And Mark Reckless, Brexit Party leader in the National Assembly, said the Supreme Court judges had "taken power to themselves".

"Let's put Brexit to bed," he said.

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First Minister Mark Drakeford led calls in Wales on Tuesday for the prime minister to quit following the ruling.

Boris Johnson said he would "respect the verdict", but that it had made negotiating with the EU more difficult.

A number of Welsh MPs were involved in the Scottish legal proceedings that led to the Supreme Court judgement.

The opposition had complained the suspension meant MPs were unable to properly scrutinise the UK government ahead of Brexit.

Anna McMorrin, Cardiff North Labour MP, said there needed to be a caretaker government, led by Labour, with a campaign to remain in a fresh vote.

She said: "The most important thing is we've got to stop no-deal, and stop a ridiculous Brexit that this right-wing populist prime minister is taking us out with."