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Boris Johnson's Plan To Suspend U.K. Parliament Infuriates Politicians

Great Britain is set to leave the EU without a deal in place on Oct. 31.

UPDATE: The Queen has approved the British prime minister’s plan to suspend parliament in the U.K.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is preparing to ask the Queen to suspend parliament in news which has sent a fresh shockwave through U.K. politics.

Johnson has said that is “completely untrue” the government is attempting to squash attempts from British MPs to block a no-deal Brexit on Oct. 31.

The new prime minister, who took office last month, claims suspending parliament allows him to set out a fresh domestic agenda in a new Queen’s Speech, due to take place on Oct. 14, and that parliament will lose just four sitting days.

So, what is going on and how does this whole process work?

Why does Johnson have to ask the Queen to suspend parliament?

The U.K. is a parliamentary democracy with an unelected monarch – Queen Elizabeth II – acting as head of state, as opposed to an elected president.

The Queen has no real power, however, and is duty bound to follow the advice of the British prime minister, with whom she meets regularly.

In order to suspend parliament, Johnson must visit the Queen and advise her to do as much.

Why does the PM want to prorogue parliament?

First of all, “prorogue” is just the official parliamentary word for “suspend.” Johnson has said that after succeeding former U.K. prime minister Theresa May as the head of government, he wants to set out a new agenda for Great Britain.

The government, which is the party with a working majority, controls parliamentary business in the U.K. House of Commons, including what issues get debated and what laws get passed.

Johnson’s plan will involve parliament being suspended (or “prorogued”) from the week beginning Sept. 9 until Oct. 14.

On Oct. 14, the Queen will make her annual Queen’s Speech, which is a speech to parliament written by the government setting out their agenda, which MPs are then able to vote on. Johnson has said his will be a “bold and ambitious domestic legislative agenda”

So why are some MPs angry?

Some British politicians don’t believe what Johnson says and think that his real gameplan is to avoid scrutiny in the Commons over his Brexit plans.

The U.K. is due to leave the European Union (EU) on Oct. 31 and, as it stands, there is no deal in place.

According to the government’s own analysis, a no-deal Brexit could spark riots, shortages of food and medicines, a hard border in Northern Ireland and widespread chaos at U.K. ports.

Johnson has refused to seek an extension to the Article 50 deadline and will not rule out leaving without a deal on Halloween if his attempts at a renegotiation with Brussels fail.

He has insisted he wants a deal and that EU leaders must remove the Northern Ireland backstop in order to get one, but MPs don’t think he can be trusted not to leave without one, so they want to pass legislation that will force Johnson to seek an extension to Article 50.

British House Speaker John Bercow, who represents the interests of MPs, has called the move a “constitutional outrage.”

Can the Queen refuse?

It is extremely unlikely that the Queen will refuse as she traditionally follows the advice of the government and the Privy Council and does not reject it.

Were she to diverge, her decision would spark a major constitutional crisis.

Can MPs stop it?

MPs have a number of options to stop the proroguing of parliament when they return from holiday next week.

With parliament due to return on Tuesday, MPs could table an immediate vote of no confidence in Johnson. If Johnson loses, MPs could form an alternative government and a new prime minister.

Jeremy Corbyn has said, as Labour leader, which is the largest opposition party, he would try to win a confidence vote, but several rebel Tories have said they will not back him.

Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of Great Britain, speaks at the closing press conference of the G7 summit on 26 August 2019, in Biarritz, France. The summit took place from 24-26 August in Biarritz. (Photo by Rita Franca/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
NurPhoto via Getty Images
Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of Great Britain, speaks at the closing press conference of the G7 summit on 26 August 2019, in Biarritz, France. The summit took place from 24-26 August in Biarritz. (Photo by Rita Franca/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

A unifying figure, such as Labour’s Harriet Harman or Tory MP Ken Clarke, have also been suggested as potential alternatives. If that person could win the confidence of parliament, the Queen would then be duty bound to send for them for advice.

MPs can seek a judicial review of Johnson’s decision to prorogue, using judges and courts to try to overturn it, and may rely on a last-minute court injunction to stop Johnson on his way to see the Queen.

What’s next?

Currently, MPs aren’t due back at work until Sept. 3, but Johnson may come under increasing pressure to ask Speaker Bercow to recall parliament early.

It is unlikely he will want to do that, but Tory backbenchers are uneasy with Johnson’s tactics.

The chances of Johnson calling an early general election are also higher now, given Tory rebels are set to back efforts to stop him from forcing a no-deal Brexit.

How the crucial next few days unfold are hard to predict.

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