Boris Johnson news – live: Major blow for prime minister as Commons vote paves way for bill preventing no-deal Brexit

As MPs return to the Commons today, legal action aimed at stopping Boris Johnson’s ability to suspend parliament is being heard at Scotland’s highest civil court on Tuesday.

At the Court of Session in Edinburgh on Friday, opponents of the move made by the Prime Minister were denied an interim interdict to halt the prorogation of Parliament by Judge Lord Doherty.

A decision was made to bring a full hearing forward to Tuesday from this Friday after the judge ruled it would be “in the interest of justice that it proceeds sooner rather than later”.

If an interim interdict had been granted it would have immediately lifted the royal order to suspend parliament.

A full interdict could still be granted by the judge. The judge will not decide on the merits of the case until he has heard legal arguments from both sides, with a final ruling potentially being delivered on Wednesday.

Keith Simpson has become the second Tory MP of the morning to have announced they will not be standing at the next general election.

The MP for Broadland said he feels like “the first officer to man the lifeboats on the Titanic”.

Might parliamentarians only have until Sunday night to get the bill blocking no deal passed?

An email obtained by Sky News’ Sam Coates indicates No 10 advisers had recently discussed proroguing parliament from Monday, 9 September.

An October general election would be a “fantastic opportunity” for Scots to demand a second vote on independence, the SNP’s Westminster leader has said.

Ian Blackford confirmed that if Boris Johnson seeks to hold a snap election next month, the SNP would focus its campaign on the ability of Scots to “determine their future”.

Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon has already declared “bring it on” to the prospect of an early general election.

And Blackford told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme: “We’re faced with the issue that the people of Scotland are expressing in opinion polls that they want that referendum on independence.

“If there is a general election, there is a fantastic opportunity for the people of Scotland to send a very clear message to Westminster that we should be able to determine our own future.”

Out deputy editor Sean O’Grady thinks Jeremy Corbyn will refuse to fall for the “trap” of agreeing to a general election, deciding to put killing off no-deal first, and an election second.

Alex Wickham at BuzzFeed News has compiled a list of Tory MPs who have confirmed they will side with the opposition later today, and states that 14 Conservatives have decided to vote against the government.

But not on his list is Stephen Hammond, who told the BBC this morning that he might “very reluctantly have to make sure no deal is not a possibility” if the prime minister does not publish his proposal for a new Brexit deal.

So it seems the No 10 email discussing the possible prorogation of parliament on 9 September has been discussed in the Court of Session hearing in Edinburgh.

Apparently Boris Johnson said “I don’t see anything shocking about this decision” – referring to suspension of parliament – in a handwritten note.

Legal news coming in thick and fast. Sir John Major and three other parties have been given the go-ahead to join Gina Miller’s legal action over the decision to suspend parliament.

The High Court, which will hear Miller’s judicial review on Thursday, has granted permission to Sir John to intervene in the case in writing.

Judges will decide later whether Sir John’s lawyers can make submissions at the hearing.

Scottish lord advocate James Wolffe QC, who is Scotland’s senior law officer, the Welsh government and shadow attorney general Shami Chakrabarti have also been given permission to intervene in writing.

A spokeswoman for the judiciary said:”The court has given permission for Sir John Major to intervene in writing in the judicial review brought by Gina Miller with the Prime Minister as defendant.

“The court will consider in due course Sir John’s application for permission for his counsel to make oral submissions at the hearing.

“Three other applications to intervene in writing on behalf of the Scottish Lord Advocate, the Welsh Government and Shami Chakrabarti have been granted.”

Today’s big event.

Boris Johnson secretly agreed to suspend parliament in mid-August – two weeks before denying the plan existed, explosive court documents heard in the Court of Session case have revealed.

An email was sent to the PM and Dominic Cummings, his chief aide, which says “we should prorogue” from 9 September.

Follow our breaking story for more.