British MPs decried Boris Johnson’s decision to prorogue parliament as reckless and unconstitutional on Wednesday, with senior figures suggesting radical action including protests, a general strike and civil service disobedience.
MPs and other senior politicians suggested a number of increasingly drastic proposals to take on Johnson. Robert Kerslake, the former head of the civil service, suggested civil servants needed to examine their conscience as to whether they could support the government’s actions.
“We are reaching the point where the civil service must consider putting its stewardship of the country ahead of service to the government of the day,” Lord Kerslake said.
The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, and the Liberal Democrat leader, Jo Swinson, demanded an intervention from the Queen, suggesting the prime minister had put the monarch in an unforgivable position that set her at odds with the majority in parliament.
Corbyn said there was “a danger that the royal prerogative is being set directly against the wishes of a majority of the House of Commons”.
He said the granting of Johnson’s request would “deprive the electorate of the opportunity to have their representatives hold the government to account, make any key decisions and ensure that there is a lawful basis for action taken”.
Swinson said she had also requested a meeting with the Queen. “This is a crucial time in our country’s history, and yet our prime minister is arrogantly attempting to force through a no-deal Brexit against the democratic will. He is outrageously stifling the voices of both the people and their representatives,” she said.
“It is appalling that the prime minister has forced opposition leaders into taking this action. However, we must take all measures necessary to avoid a disastrous no-deal Brexit, for which there is no mandate.”
So this is what taking back control looks like.
Having built their campaign for withdrawal from the European Union around the argument that Britain’s sovereign parliament must have its supremacy restored, the Brexiteers who control 10 Downing Street have now decided that the best way of liberating their beloved parliament is to shut it down.
Boris Johnson’s decision to suspend the institution for five weeks at a critical moment in the Brexit process is an outrageous manoeuvre to curtail MPs from blocking the no-deal exit that a majority of them oppose.
And they oppose it for good reason.
So this is what taking back control looks like.
Having built their campaign for withdrawal from the European Union around the argument that Britain’s sovereign parliament must have its supremacy restored, the Brexiteers who control 10 Downing Street have now decided that the best way of liberating their beloved parliament is to shut it down.
Boris Johnson’s decision to suspend the institution for five weeks at a critical moment in the Brexit process is an outrageous manoeuvre to curtail MPs from blocking the no-deal exit that a majority of them oppose.
And they oppose it for good reason.
A no-deal crash-out would harm Britain’s economy, rob London of any leverage as it enters trade talks with the EU and trash the county’s international reputation. It would also hurt Ireland and the EU.
No matter how often Johnson and his acolytes claim they are implementing the will of the people, one fact cannot change: nobody voted for this. Not a single British citizen was ever asked to approve a hard Brexit, let alone a no-deal.
Allies of John Bercow have warned Boris Johnson that he has “poked the hornet's nest” by proroguing Parliament, amid claims that the Speaker will help Remainers rapidly pass legislation to block-no deal.
With opposition parties now determined to seize control of Parliamentary business as early as Tuesday next week, sources close to Mr Bercow say he is now ready to “facilitate” their plans.
A close friend of Mr Bercow said that the hopes of Europhile MPs now rested on him, adding: “It’s now or never”.
It comes after the Speaker reacted with fury to the news that Mr Johnson had requested that the Queen prorogue Parliament as early as September 9.
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