MPs returned to parliament after a court ruled its suspension was unlawful. — AFP Photo

LONDON — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson challenged opposition MPs to try to remove him Wednesday in a defiant response to the Supreme Court's ruling that his suspension of parliament was unlawful.

Britain's highest court on Tuesday found the Conservative leader acted illegally in suspending, or proroguing, parliament for five weeks in the run-up to Brexit.

But Johnson showed no contrition as he faced the newly reconvened House of Commons, and repeated his vow to leave the European Union on October 31 with or without a deal with Brussels.

To cheers from his Conservative MPs and roars of outrage from the opposition benches, he condemned the court ruling as "wrong".

Faced with calls to resign, he challenged Labour and other opposition parties to call a confidence vote in his government, saying he would make time for it to be debated on Thursday.

"Will they have the courage to act or will they refuse to take responsibility and do nothing but dither and delay... what are they scared of?" he shouted across the chamber.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn declined the offer – even while calling on Johnson to resign, saying he was "not fit for the office he holds".

Corbyn said he would not back an election until the prime minister's threat of leaving the EU without a divorce deal was removed.

In the week before parliament was suspended earlier this month, MPs passed a law requiring Johnson ask the EU to delay Brexit if he cannot get a deal.

"If he wants an election, get an extension and let's have an election," Corbyn said. — AFP