Queen Elizabeth II has approved the request made by British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, to close what has been the longest session of parliament in nearly 400 years, and reopen it on October 14 setting out Johnson’s fresh legislative programme.
The Privy Council, a body of senior politicians who act as the Queen’s official advisers, requested Wednesday that the Queen “prorogues,” or suspends, Parliament. The Queen is currently on holiday in Scotland.
According to a statement from the Privy Council, the Queen has approved the suspension of Parliament “no earlier than Monday 9th September and no later than Thursday 12th September” until October 14.
Johnson’s announcement came after six opposition parties said on Tuesday they would first seek to legislate to prevent leaving the EU without a deal when parliament returns from a summer recess next week.
Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the main opposition Labour Party, has said he wants to call a vote of no-confidence in Johnson’s government, which commands a majority of just one seat.
John Bercow, the speaker of parliament’s lower House of Commons, described the closure as a “constitutional outrage” designed to stymie debate on Brexit, with Britain currently on course to crash out without a divorce deal.
AFP
