Queen approves UK prime minister Boris Johnson's request to suspend parliament (updated)
- UK's prime minister Boris Johnson's request to the Queen to have the parliament suspended has been approved
- Members of the parliament had opposed the move, saying it was a plot to force through a no deal Brexit
- Johnson also countered the allegations of the lawmakers, saying they would still have enough time to debate Brexit
- The Queen eventually approved the order meaning that the parliament will be suspended early September to 14 October, just before Brexit deadline
The Queen of the United Kingdom, Elizabeth II, has approved the UK prime minister Boris Johnson's request to suspend the parliament from early September to 14 October - just before Brexit deadline.
The prime minister had asked the Queen to suspend parliament in a move suspected to be a calculated attempt to ensure a no-deal Brexit.
The move comes days after members of the parliament return to work in September and only a few weeks before the Brexit deadline, according to a report by BBC.
The prime minister said a Queen's Speech would take place on 14 October, after the parliament would have been suspended, to outline his agenda.
The Queen's Speech, according to parliament.uk, is the speech that the Queen reads out in the Lords Chamber on the occasion of the State Opening of Parliament. It sets out the programme of legislation that the Government intend to pursue in the forthcoming parliamentary session.
Suspending the parliament at this times means the time the MPs have to pass laws to stop a no-deal Brexit on October 31 would be cut, BBC notes.
Reacting to the development, House of Commons speaker John Bercow said it was a "constitutional outrage".
"However it is dressed up, it is blindingly obvious that the purpose of [suspending Parliament] now would be to stop [MPs] debating Brexit and performing its duty in shaping a course for the country," Bercow said.
It would be "an offence against the democratic process and the rights of parliamentarians as the people's elected representatives," he added.
Also commenting, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he had written to the Queen to request an urgent meeting before a final decision is taken on the matter.
"Suspending parliament is not acceptable, not on. What the prime minister is doing is a smash and grab on our democracy to force through a no deal," Corbyn also said.
"Our prime minister needs to be held to account by parliament. What he is doing is running away from parliament. We will do absolutely everything we can to stop him."
The prime minister has, however, dismissed the allegations that the suspension was a plot to force through a no deal, saying they were "completely untrue".
Johnson explained that he did not want to wait till Brexit is achieved before getting on with his plans to move the country forward, adding that the lawmakers would still have enough time to debate Brexit.
"We need new legislation. We've got to be bringing forward new and important bills and that's why we are going to have a Queen's Speech," the prime minister was quoted to have said.
PAY ATTENTION: Download our mobile app to enjoy the latest news update
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the UK prime minister appointed Nigerian Olukemi Olufunto Badenoch as Children and Families' minister, as part of his government reshuffle.
The 39-year-old Badenoch is a British Conservative politician and MP for Saffron Walden. Badenoch announced her new appointment on Monday, July 29.
NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better
Top 4 Most Influential Nigerians in the World: Nigerians in Top Positions on Legit TV
Source: Legit.ng
