BORIS Johnson has been accused of behaving like a “tin-pot dictator” after he announced the suspension of the UK Parliament that restricts MPs’ ability to stop a no-deal Brexit.
A wave of outrage broke at the Prime Minister’s announcement, which will mean Westminster will be prorogued from next Monday until October 14 when a Queen’s Speech will take place, setting out the new Government’s priorities.
But only a small number of UK ministers are thought to have known about the plan in advance.
READ MORE: Boris Johnson to seek extended suspension of Parliament ahead of a Queen's Speech
MPs and peers behind a move to make unlawful any prorogation to stop the House of Commons being able to try to block a no-deal Brexit – to be heard at Edinburgh’s Court of Session a week tomorrow – made clear they are now considering an application from an interim interdict, an emergency ban, to stop the suspension of Parliament.
Yesterday, The Herald reported how the MPs and peers, numbering 70, might be forced to “get a judge out of bed in the middle of the night” to sign a court order blocking prorogation.
One of the petitioning MPs, Ian Murray, the Labour MP for Edinburgh South, said: “Boris Johnson’s plan to suspend Parliament is an assault on our democracy.”
However, the PM insisted it was “untrue” that he had decided to suspend Parliament to thwart MPs’ attempts to stop a no-deal outcome and insisted his Government needed to set out its “very exciting agenda” on healthcare, education and tackling crime. He insisted that there would be enough time before and after a crunch European Council meeting on October 17 for MPs to debate Brexit.
Among those expressing anger and dismay at his move was John Bercow, who branded it a “constitutional outrage”.
Noting how he had had no contact from the PM about his announcement, the Commons Speaker dismissed Mr Johnson’s reasoning, saying: “However it is dressed up, it is blindingly obvious that the purpose of prorogation now would be to stop Parliament debating Brexit and performing its duty in shaping a course for the country."
Mr Bercow, who is currently away on holiday, said shutting down Parliament would be an offence against the democratic process and the rights of parliamentarians as the people's elected representatives.
He added: "Surely at this early stage in his premiership, the Prime Minister should be seeking to establish rather than undermine his democratic credentials and indeed his commitment to Parliamentary democracy.”
Former Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston, who recently joined the Liberal Democrats, tweeted: "Johnson behaving like a tin-pot dictator. Time for ministers to resign & Conservative MPs to cross the floor rather than be tainted with this outrage."
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said MPs must come together to stop the plan next week or "today will go down in history as a dark one indeed for UK democracy".
Her SNP colleague Ian Blackford, who leads the party at Westminster, denounced what he called Mr Johnson’s “disgraceful and undemocratic actions”. He tweeted: "Boris Johnson is acting like a dictator by attempting to shut down democracy to impose an extreme Brexit. He has no mandate, no majority, and he must be stopped. The SNP will be doing everything we can to stop Brexit and prevent a No-Deal disaster.
In a letter to MPs, Mr Johnson set out his reasoning behind his announcement.
Mr Johnson said he was bringing forward a "bold and ambitious domestic legislative agenda" which MPs would be able to vote on in October.
He said: "This morning I spoke to Her Majesty The Queen to request an end to the current parliamentary session in the second sitting week in September, before commencing the second session of this Parliament with a Queen's speech on Monday 14 October.
"A central feature of the legislative programme will be the Government's number one legislative priority, if a new deal is forthcoming at EU Council, to introduce a Withdrawal Agreement Bill and move at pace to secure its passage before 31 October. We do not have a “new government.” This action is an utterly scandalous affront to our democracy. We cannot let this happen. https://t.co/93TBKCSWhk
"I also believe it is vitally important that the key votes associated with the Queen's Speech and any deal with the EU fall at a time when parliamentarians are best placed to judge the Government's programme.
"Parliament will have the opportunity to debate the Government's overall programme, and approach to Brexit, in the run up to EU Council, and then vote on this on 21 and 22 October, once we know the outcome of the Council.
It would be a constitutional outrage if Parliament were prevented from holding the government to account at a time of national crisis. Profoundly undemocratic.
— Philip Hammond (@PhilipHammondUK) August 28, 2019
"Should I succeed in agreeing a deal with the EU, Parliament will then have the opportunity to pass the Bill required for ratification of the deal ahead of 31 October," he added.
READ MORE: Politics LIVE: Boris Johnson planning extended suspension of Parliament
The critical responses included:
*Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell: "Make no mistake, this is a very British coup. Whatever one's views on Brexit, once you allow a Prime Minister to prevent the full and free operation of our democratic institutions you are on a very precarious path."
*Jo Swinson, the Liberal Democrat leader: “By suspending Parliament to force through a no-deal, Boris Johnson and the Government would remove the voice of the people. It is a dangerous and unacceptable course of action which the LibDems will strongly oppose."
*Former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Phillip Hammond: "It would be a constitutional outrage if parliament were prevented from holding the government to account at a time of national crisis. Profoundly undemocratic."
*Labour’s Margaret Beckett, a leading supporter of the "People's Vote" campaign: "Boris Johnson and his Government are trashing the constitution. This is a Government with no majority of its own in Parliament. While Parliament is not even sitting, he is disgracefully dragging the Queen into the heart of the most difficult and dangerous exploitation of the usual powers of Government.”
*Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair's former spin doctor: "Hopefully Tory MPs who thought they could 'wait and see' can now see plainly that they need to get behind the legislative plan discussed by Opposition leaders yesterday. Fast. Or play along with Johnson destroying Parliamentary democracy while pretending to 'take back control'.
The supportive responses included:
*Tory MP Zac Goldsmith, an ally of Mr Johnson: "Proroguing Parliament, which happens most Autumns, is 'a constitutional outrage' - according to the very same people who only a few days ago were trying to impose Ken Clarke as PM."
*Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage: "The Government's announcement today makes a confidence motion now certain, a general election more likely and is seen as a positive move by Brexiteers. The unanswered question is whether Boris Johnson intends to pursue the Withdrawal Agreement."
Meanwhile, responding to reports Downing St would call an election in the event of losing a no-confidence vote, Ms Sturgeon tweeted: "Bring it on," adding: “Have the courage of your convictions, Boris Johnson. Call an election now - with polling day before Oct 31 - and let the people vote. Or are you frit?"
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