British Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked the Queen to suspend Parliament to keep Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn from introducing legislation to prevent Brexit.
“This morning I spoke to Her Majesty The Queen to request an end of the current parliamentary session in the second sitting week of September, before commencing the second session of this Parliament with a Queen’s speech on Monday 14 October,” Johnson said in a letter Wednesday. “A central feature of the legislative programme will be the Government’s number one legislative priority, if a new deal is forthcoming at EU council, to introduce a Withdrawal Agreement Bill and move at pace to secure its passage before 31 October.”
The Queen approved the request to suspend Parliament for five weeks. The move gives Corbyn and those seeking to delay Brexit only two weeks to come up with a delay tactic.
“I protested in the strongest possible terms on behalf of my party and I believe all the other opposition parties are going to join in with this in simply saying that suspending Parliament is not acceptable,” Corbyn said in response to Johnson’s request.
Corbyn, 70, could attempt to call a no confidence vote in Johnson but the prime minister is determined to fight through any obstacles.
“If MPs pass a no confidence vote next week then we won’t resign,” a senior official told The Sun. “We won’t recommend another government, we’ll dissolve parliament, call an election between November 1-5.”
