United Kingdom and Gibraltar European Union membership referendum
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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants to force a parliament break until October 14, before the country's planned EU exit on October 31, when Queen Elizabeth II formally presents the program of Johnsons administration. MEPs have "plenty of time" to debate Brexit before the scheduled departure date, Johnson told broadcaster Sky News. He denied allegations that he wanted to sack parliament.
The Queen has to agree to the so-called prorogation. But that is considered a formality. The move is highly controversial and should meet with fierce resistance. A lawsuit is already underway in Scotland to prevent parliamentary closure.
With the step Johnson apparently wants to anticipate the announced plans of the opposition parties. You want to prevent a Brexit without withdrawal agreement by law. But there would hardly be enough time for a break in parliament. Johnson insists on sticking to the scheduled withholding date - with or without agreement.
Bercow speaks of "evil against the Constitution"
Johnson said he was still interested in a Brexit deal. "Parliament will have the chance to debate the government program and its dealings with Brexit ahead of the EU summit, and to vote on it on 21 or 22 October," Johnson wrote in a letter to parliamentarians. The EU summit is scheduled for 17 and 18 October. "If I manage to negotiate a deal with the EU, Parliament will have the opportunity to pass the law needed to ratify such a deal before 31 October."
Parliament Speaker John Bercow reacted indignantly. He called Johnson's plan a "crime against the constitution." It was "perfectly obvious" that the intention behind the parliamentary resolution was to prevent MEPs from debating their duty in Brexit.
Lab chief Jeremy Corbyn said he was "appalled by the recklessness of Johnson's government." Other MPs reacted outraged. "Pretty scandalous," commented Conservative Dominic Grieve, who is vehemently opposed to leaving the EU without an agreement. That makes a vote of no confidence against Johnson more likely, he told the BBC. He finds it harder to have confidence in the government if it really wants to send parliament into a forced break. "Boris Johnson is trying to take advantage of the Queen to concentrate power in his own hands," Labor MP Yvette Cooper wrote.
Most recently, the Parliament was suspended in 2017. The current session is unusually long due to the Brexit turmoil. The fact that Johnson now just in the decisive phase before the exit date and presumably against the will of Parliament to resort to this remedy, makes the matter politically extremely explosive.
