Scottish court: ‘no doubt’ that Boris will abide by law on Brexit extension

Is Boris Johnson on course to request an Article 50 extension within the fortnight? The Court of Session, Scotland’s highest court, has today dismissed a legal effort to force Johnson to comply with the law (dubbed ‘surrender act’ in No. 10) aimed at making the government seek a Brexit extension in the event of a no deal. Only the reason the judge in question ruled that there was no need for ‘coercive orders’ against the UK government is that he said there could be ‘no doubt’ that the prime minister had already agreed to abide by the law – after government documents submitted to the Court of Session said the prime minister would send a letter asking for an extension to Article 50 if he fails to secure a new agreement with Brussels by 19 October.

Given that an agreement with Brussels looks increasingly unlikely, all the signs point to the government seeking an extension by October 19, the date by which the law dictates it must be requested by.