And they lost no time in summoning supporters to party headquarters on Bangkok’s Phetchaburi Road.

Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit vowed to continue fighting and announced the formation of “the Group of Future Forward”, which he said would keep up the campaign to get Thailand back on the road to democracy.

Party secretary-general Piyabutr Saengkanokkul objected to the court’s ruling, which also bans party executives from contesting elections for 10 years.

Piyabutr called the judges’ interpretation of the law inappropriate and accused them of applying double standards.