Step aside Brenda from Bristol, there’s another Brenda on the
UK political scene and she’s just captured the hearts of millions.
Lady Hale, or Brenda Marjorie Hale, Baroness Hale of Richmond, to use her full title, has just announced to the nation that Boris Johnson’s controversial decision to suspend parliament was unlawful.Lady Hale has just told this country that the Prime Minister,
Boris Johnson advised the
Queen to act unlawfully.Just read that again. And again.— Lewis Goodall (@lewis_goodall) September 24, 2019The 74-year-old president of the Supreme Court immediately trended on
Twitter, with people praising her composure, eloquence and, of course, her fantastic range of brooches.
During Tuesday’s announcement, Lady Hale went with what appeared to be a very large spider, suggested by some to be a Black Widow.Also I am particularly loving Lady Hale’s “Black Widow - Queen of Justice” vibe. pic.twitter.com/WIM4zjxCoY— Ingrid Oliver (@ingridoliver100) September 24, 2019There was much debate over its true meaning.Lady Hale demonstrating the potential for vast novelistic sub-narratives offered by a correctly chosen brooch. What a tangled web we weave, indeed. #Prorogationpic.twitter.com/BVmmm9i3Zc— Anne Louise Avery (@AnneLouiseAvery) September 24, 2019And if you want it on a t shirt, they’ve already got you covered.It's on its way to Westminster. pic.twitter.com/TZTxzyi3Q2— Balcony Shirts (@balconyshirts) September 24, 2019Not that it should distract from her previous efforts however...Can we not lose sight of what's important here: what an absolute brooch icon Lady Hale is pic.twitter.com/I0IAx4TE3M— Ed Brody (@chiefbrody1984) September 24, 2019Might start an
Instagram account for Lady Hale's brooches— Ian Dunt (@IanDunt) September 24, 2019A panel of 11 justices at the
Supreme Court in
London gave their decision on Tuesday in a ruling on the legality of the prime minister’s advice to the Queen to prorogue parliament until October 14.
The judges, led by the court’s president Lady Hale, heard appeals over three days arising out of legal challenges in
England and
Scotland – which produced different outcomes.
The panel held unanimously that Johnson’s advice to the Queen was unlawful because it had the effect of frustrating parliament.
Lady Hale’s announcement was welcomed by those fighting for the UK to remain in the EU.All hail Lady Hale & the amazing champion of democracy @thatginamiller & all the other brilliant MPs, lawyers & activists for all their incredible work. Absolute jaw dropping stuff. Heroes.— Ayesha Hazarika (@ayeshahazarika) September 24, 2019The motto on Baroness Hale's coat of arms is Omnia Feminae Aequissimae.
Women are equal to everything.— Linda Grant (@lindasgrant) September 24, 2019The BBC’s Emily Maitlis suggested the performance would require a suitably classy recovery period.Now imagining Lady Hale slumped happily in the fleabag pose. Fag, martini and ball dress.— emily m (@maitlis) September 24, 2019And if you haven’t seen the show...Lady Hale right now. pic.twitter.com/Str5UeZmDU— Stig Abell (@StigAbell) September 24, 2019But spare a thought for all the political reporters currently attending the
Labour Party Conference in Brighton and now frantically booking last-minute train tickets.PARLIAMENT HAS NOT BEEN PROROGUED says Lady Hale. Everyone back on a train to London— Tim Shipman (@ShippersUnbound) September 24, 2019Lady Hale was born in Leeds in 1945, to parents who would both become headteachers and the second of three daughters.Lady Hale looks like the kind of sweet old lady who'd make you tea and offer you a biscuit and then sits down to tell you about all her assassination missions she did for the resistance during the war in occupied France— Ewaphant 🐘 (@EwaSR) September 24, 2019Her scholarly parents obviously rubbed off on her as she graduate Girton College, Cambridge, top of her class.Lady Hale looks up, removes her glasses, stares directly at the Sky News Camera and concludes, "And to Mr Cummings I would add, 'Classic Hale, you punk bitch.'"— Dmitry Grozoubinski (@DmitryOpines) September 24, 2019She became Professor of Law at Manchester University in 1986 and then went on to become a judge in the Family Division of the High Court of Justice.YES LADY HALE YES!— stellacreasy (@stellacreasy) September 24, 2019Her legal career went from strength to strength. A long-standing champion of diversity in the judiciary, she became the first female justice of the court in October 2009, and was appointed deputy president in June 2013.give Lady Hale and her giant spider brooch a statue you cowards— Kirsty Strickland (@KirstyStricklan) September 24, 2019She was appointed the first female president of the Supreme Court in 2017.Who is dressing up as Lady Hale for
Halloween on 31st October?— Sophia (@SophiaCannon) September 24, 2019During her time as deputy president, Lady Hale ruled on numerous high-profile cases, including the
Brexit appeal.
Johnson is now acing calls to resign after the devastating ruling by the Supreme Court.
Following unanimous ruling by the 11 justices that the five-week prorogation was “void and of no effect” , the Labour leader
Jeremy Corbyn led calls for the return of MPs to Westminster.
“I will be in touch immediately to demand that parliament is recalled so that we can question the prime minister, demand that he obeys the law that’s been passed by parliament,” he told the Labour Party conference in Brighton.(Infographic supplied by Statista)Related... Jeremy Corbyn Demands Boris Johnson 'Consider His Position' After Supreme Court Ruling Why The Supreme Court Decision Has Just Rebooted Our Democracy