LONDON: The Queen has agreed to suspend the United Kingdom’s parliament for 24 days over the request of government, just as the country heads towards its deadline for leaving the European Union.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked Queen Elizabeth II to suspend the U.K. Parliament from mid-September to mid-October in a bold move.
Within hours of Johnson’s request, the queen agreed to prorogue, or suspend, Parliament for several weeks in September and October.
In a letter to MPs outlining his Government’s plans, Johnson said he was bringing forward a “bold and ambitious domestic legislative agenda” which MPs would be able to vote on in October.
The move would likely allow Johnson to bypass lawmakers and push through a no-deal Brexit.
Parliament had been scheduled to meet during the first two weeks of September and reconvene on Oct. 9.
Johnson asked the queen to suspend Parliament during the second week of September, soon after lawmakers return from their summer break. Under his plan, the body would not meet again until Oct. 14, just two weeks before the deadline for Britain’s planned departure from the European Union.
Johnson insists he wants Parliament suspended so he can develop an agenda for his new government. He adds that a queen’s speech has now been scheduled for Oct. 14, when he will present his agenda.
Critics, opposition politicians and some members of Johnson’s own Conservative party say his maneuver would give lawmakers little time to push back on a no-deal Brexit, which a majority of the Parliament opposes.
In an interview at 10 Downing Street, Johnson said, “We’re not going to wait until October 31st before getting on with our plans to take this country forward.”
“This is a new government with a very exciting agenda,” Johnson continued.
US president Donald Trump signalled his support for Mr Johnson, who he met at the G7 summit in Biarritz over the weekend.
Would be very hard for Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of Britain’s Labour Party, to seek a no-confidence vote against New Prime Minister Boris Johnson, especially in light of the fact that Boris is exactly what the U.K. has been looking for, & will prove to be “a great one!” Love U.K.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 28, 2019
As Johnson’s policy of forcing through Brexit at all costs has moved ever closer to reality, UK’s Pound Sterling has fallen to its lowest levels in over 30 years against the dollar.
