Boris Johnson accused of orchestrating 'coup'

This would be just 13 working days before Britain’s scheduled exit from the EU on October 31.

On Thursday, a Scottish judge will be called upon to order a legal block on the move, which unleashed a torrent of fury from the PM’s political opponents who denounced it as “anti-democratic” and a “constitutional outrage”.

• READ MORE: Ruth Davidson 'to quit as Scottish Conservative leader'

Sterling also took a tumble, losing at one point more than a cent as it fell to $1.2155.

And last night, thousands of protesters gathered outside the House of Commons, chanting “Stop the coup,” as traffic was brought to a standstill.

Mr Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn were branded “irresponsible” for dragging the Queen into the heart of the Brexit row, while First Minister Nicola Sturgeon accused Mr Johnson of behaving like a “tinpot dictator”, suggesting his actions might well have hastened the day of Scottish independence.

Mark Drakeford, Wales’s First Minister, called for the Welsh Assembly to be recalled to discuss the “constitutional crisis”.

But the PM hit back, claiming it was “untrue” to suggest suspending Parliament had anything to do with Brexit.

He argued there would be “ample time” for MPs to debate Britain’s EU withdrawal.

Mr Corbyn, who accused Mr Johnson of committing a “smash-and-grab on our democracy,” wrote to the Queen requesting a meeting “as a matter of urgency” to try to stop Parliament from being suspended.

But it was too late. Hours earlier, Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Commons Leader, had travelled with two other Conservative Privy Counsellors to Balmoral to seek the Queen’s signature, which, as per convention, he succeeded in getting.

Labour’s Yvette Cooper, who chairs the Commons Home Affairs Committee, said: “Boris Johnson is trying to use the Queen to concentrate power in his own hands; this is a deeply dangerous and irresponsible way to govern.”

But Stephen Kerr, the Conservative MP for Stirling, hit out at Mr Corbyn, telling The Herald: “Jeremy Corbyn’s attempt to involve the Queen in this is so irresponsible. To use our 93-year-old monarch as a pawn for party advantage is pathetic.”

Some 70 MPs and peers are already behind a move to get the Court of Session in Edinburgh to block the PM’s move to suspend Parliament with a hearing due a week tomorrow. But, in light of Mr Johnson’s unexpected announcement, they will today lodge a bid to get the judge to order an interim interdict to call an immediate halt to Parliament’s suspension.

One of the petitioners, the SNP MP Joanna Cherry, said she was “reasonably confident”  their bid would succeed but, if not, they would immediately appeal.

Sir John Major, the former Conservative premier, said he was seeking legal advice on what he described as Mr

Johnson’s intention to “bypass a sovereign Parliament that opposes his policy on Brexit”.

But, earlier, the PM claimed he was seeking a suspension of Parliament to bring forward a “bold and ambitious domestic legislative agenda”.

In a letter to Tory colleagues, he said: “Parliament will have the opportunity to debate the Government’s overall prog-ramme, and approach to Brexit, in the run-up to the EU Council [on October 17], and then vote on this on October 21 and 22, once we know the outcome of the Council.”

He added: “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 October 31.”

However, Mr Johnson’s action was denounced as “anti-democratic” by political opponents, who dismissed his reasoning as disingenuous, as did John Bercow. The Commons Speaker was incensed at what he branded a “constitutional outrage”.

“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,” he said.

In Scotland, Ms Sturgeon described the PM’s move as an “outrage”, noting: “This may well be the day UK democracy dies and it may well be the day we look back on as the day when independence for Scotland became completely inevitable.”

Shadow transport secretary Andy MacDonald said the stakes could not be higher, noting: “This could spell the end of the United Kingdom.”

• READ MORE: Just one in six Scots believe Boris Johnson's Brexit shutdown is acceptable

LibDems’ leader Jo Swinson denounced what she described as the PM’s attempt to “remove the voice of the people,” saying it was a “dangerous and unacceptable course of action the LibDems will strongly oppose”.

Green MP Caroline Lucas also took the PM to task, branding him a “coward”, who knew his “reckless no-deal Brexit will never gain the support of MPs”.

But the PM received support from Conservative colleagues and Donald Trump.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack welcomed his colleague’s decision to bring forward a “new bold and ambitious

legislative agenda” as did Andrew Bowie, the MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, saying: “I fully support the PM as he seeks to set out the legislative programme for his Government as every new government does through a Queen’s Speech.”

Arlene Foster, the leader of the Democratic Unionists, who spoke directly to Mr Johnson about his move, insisted he was “well within his rights” to seek a suspension of Parliament and welcomed it as an opportunity for the UK Government to set out its programme.

But she also noted how the terms of her party’s Confidence and Supply agreement with the Government – which saw an extra £1 billion for Northern Ireland – would now be reviewed in advance of the new parliamentary session. 

Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage said Mr Johnson’s announcement was a “positive move”, while Mr Trump said: “Boris is exactly what the UK has been looking for and will prove to be ‘a great one’.”

A snap YouGov poll suggested people were against prorogation by 47 per cent to 27%.