Boris Johnson given OK by Queen to suspend parliament
The Queen has signed off on Boris Johnson’s shock request to suspend parliament which would stop Jeremy Corbyn’s plans to block a ‘No Deal’ Brexit.
The Queen has approved Boris Johnson’s bombshell request to suspend parliament and stop Jeremy Corbyn’s plans to block No Deal Brexit.
The Sun reports that Her Majesty met with members of Privy Council today at Balmoral and an order to prorogue parliament between September 9 to October 14 was given the green light this afternoon.
Queen Elizabeth II has approved Boris Johnson’s request. Picture: GettySource: Getty Images
Brexiteer and Lord of the Council Jacob Rees-Mogg, Baroness Evans and Mark Spencer MP — were the three counselors who met the Monarch on behalf of the PM.
While the Queen’s decision is a boost for Johnson it would have been unprecedented for her to refuse the request of a sitting PM.
No10 would have expected this step and will now look towards fighting a Corbyn no-confidence vote in the Commons.
Johnson’s bold move to block MPs from sitting in parliament for around five weeks over conference season will give rebels less time to launch new plots to stop the UK leaving on October 31.
MPs would come back for a Queen’s speech on October 14 under the plans, just two weeks before the UK is due to leave the EU.
That would leave just days for a possible vote of no confidence in Johnson, or for rebel MPs to pass a law to push back the Brexit date.
Protesters from the European Movement in Scotland hold a walking vigil outside the Scottish parliament, Edinburgh, to demonstrate against Prime Minister Boris Johnson proroguing parliament, in Edinburgh, Scotland. Picture: APSource:AP
No10 also confirmed that if Johnson gets a deal with the EU, they will bring it forward for a vote in the Commons before October 31
Johnson said: “We are not going to wait for October 31 before getting on with our plans to take the country forward.
“That’s why we are going to have a Queen’s speech and we are going to do it on October 14.”
“We are going to get on with it.”
He argued there was “ample time” for MPs to debate Brexit still.
Rebel MPs had discussed plans yesterday to try and scrap the conference recess altogether to give them as much time to wreck Brexit as possible.
DON’T WRECK MY PLANS
Johnson also delivered a threat to rebel MPs — that if they try and derail his Brexit negotiations it will be their fault if the UK leaves without a deal.
He wrote: “These weeks leading up to the European Council on 17/18 October are vitally important for the sake of my negotiations with the EU.
“Member states are watching what parliament does with great interest, and it is only by showing unity and resolve that we stand a chance of securing a new deal that can be passed by parliament.”
Anti-Brexit supporters wave flags and hold signs at College Green near the Houses of Parliament in central London. Picture: APSource:AP
MPs are set to come back to parliament after their summer break next Tuesday, September 3.
But they are then expected to go off on the traditional three-week conference recess on around September 12, for the final few weeks of the month.
Every year the PM shuts down parliament for several weeks to allow time for conferences — but not usually for such a long period of time.
MPs will be told to stay at home for at least an extra week.
This article originally appeared in The Sun and is republished here with permission