Portsmouth MP and activist brand plan to suspend Parliament in September ‘reckless' and 'undemocratic’

A PORTSMOUTH MP and a fervent activist have branded plans to suspend Parliament next month ‘reckless' and ‘extremely undemocratic’.
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The outrage comes after the move to prorogue Parliament on September 9 was confirmed by prime minister Boris Johnson this morning.

A Queen's speech will follow on October 14, setting out the government's plans with weeks to go until the October 31 Brexit deadline.

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Mr Johnson denied the move was to pave the way for an early general election.

The Houses of Parliament in Westminster. Picture: Steve Parsons/PA WireThe Houses of Parliament in Westminster. Picture: Steve Parsons/PA Wire
The Houses of Parliament in Westminster. Picture: Steve Parsons/PA Wire

But he said it would allow him to bring forward legislation for a new Withdrawal Agreement if a deal can be done with Brussels around the time of the European Council summit on October 17.

‘There will be ample time on both sides of that crucial October 17 summit, ample time in Parliament for MPs to debate the EU, to debate Brexit, and all the other issues,’ Mr Johnson said.

The Commons was expected to sit in the first two weeks of September and then break for the conference recess - although MPs had been planning to vote against leaving Westminster for the autumn party gatherings in late September and early October to allow more time to consider Brexit.

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Mr Johnson's move will now ensure that the Commons is not sitting during the period and MPs will return on the day of the Queen's Speech.

Stephen Morgan, the Labour MP for Portsmouth South, accused Mr Johnson of using Her Majesty the Queen to 'centralise power’ in an ‘insult to our great democracy’.

It comes as the suspension prompts fears MPs will have little time to pass legislation to prevent exiting the European Union without a deal.

‘We know a no deal would have catastrophic consequences for UK jobs, our nation’s economy and it would decimate our NHS,' Mr Morgan said.

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‘Brexit has already cost the UK £600m a week in lost growth whilst an estimated £1.5bn has been spent on preparations. It’s absolutely right we continue to work across party to stop a disastrous no deal exit.

‘It is now clear that Mr Johnson is not only running scared of the people for not giving them a final say, but now running scared of the voice of the people in Parliament.

‘Yesterday I signed the Church House Declaration in defiance of a PM who is willing to bypass democracy and prorogue Parliament.

‘For the people of Portsmouth I will continue to work with others across party against this PM’s dangerous ego-driven campaign to remove the voice of the people at this time of national crisis.

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‘I will do everything I can to stop Mr Johnson crashing our great country out of the EU with a no deal.’

Mr Johnson said claims the government was stopping MPs from stopping a no-deal situation are ‘completely untrue'.

Vocal Portsmouth activist Jon Woods, chairman of the city’s Unison branch, said the prorogation is 'extremely undemocratic and of serious concern'.

‘People from all sorts of different viewpoints will see this as a retrograde step and I know the People's Assembly has already called for a demonstration,' he said.

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‘The problem is, at least if Parliament is sitting, it's technically possible issues are raised, but without Parliament sitting, there’s no chance.’

The suspension will begin just days after MPs return to Parliament after the summer recess.

Conservative MP for Gosport, Caroline Dinenage, has defended the move – branding it indicative of the government's ‘new energy' under Mr Johnson.

‘Without a new session of Parliament the government can’t introduce much-needed legislation to tackle crime or improve the NHS,' she said.

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‘Only those in the Westminster bubble could be outraged about Parliament having less time to go round and round in endless debates on Brexit.

‘I suspect most of my constituents would be relieved that the government is acting on their concerns, pushing forward to deliver Brexit and bring about the other changes we all want to see.'

Alan Mak, Conservative MP for Havant, said: ‘As with any new government, it is right that a Queen’s speech takes place to set out a new legislative agenda.

‘The prorogation of Parliament takes place before every Queen’s speech and is in line with the planned conference recess.

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‘The prime minister is committed to introducing new laws to improve our NHS, bolster our police and invest in infrastructure, which can only be achieved through a Queen’s speech.

‘There will still be time for MPs to discuss Brexit in the coming weeks in Parliament and I am committed to ensuring that we deliver on the prime minister’s pledge for Brexit to take place on October 31.’

Suella Braverman, Conservative MP for Fareham, said: ‘As our new prime minister, Boris Johnson rightly wants to lay out a new agenda for the government.

‘We have had an exceptionally long parliamentary session, and in line with convention, we need a new session with a Queen’s speech setting out the new government’s agenda.

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‘Even the Labour opposition have been calling for a new session.

‘Given that Parliament was already going to have a recess for three weeks in September and October for party conferences, only a few sitting days of Parliament will actually be lost during prorogation.’

Meanwhile Judith Bunting, a Liberal Democrat MEP for the South East, said: ‘Shutting down Parliament is a childish act of cowardice on the part of Boris Johnson.

‘He knows the people would not choose a no deal and that their elected representatives will not allow him to wreak such damage on the country. He is trying to stifle their voices.

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‘By suspending Parliament to force through a no deal, Johnson, Cummings and the government remove the voice of the people at the most important time.

‘It is a dangerous and unacceptable course of action which all Liberal Democrats strongly oppose.

‘MPs from all parties united earlier this week to avert a no deal Brexit and to prevent an anti-democratic shut down of Parliament.

‘The dive toward no deal is being driven by foreign interests and selfish egos who put their own investments and interests ahead of the country they are supposed to represent.

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‘Leave voters who I meet are starting to feel very uncomfortable with the way things are going.

‘No deal would be a catastrophe for our country and lead to recession and levels of unemployment not see in modern times.

‘The government itself has admitted that it would cause shortages in medicines and food.

‘The Liberal Democrats continue to work cross-party to prevent no deal, and to fight to stop Brexit altogether.’

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