The Queen has approved Boris Johnson’s request to shut down parliament until mid-October to push through his controversial Brexit plans.
The Queen’s approval for Johnson to suspend parliament ahead of Brexit means that MPs will have to wait for five weeks to pass laws to prevent Britain from leaving the European Union by the October 31 deadline.
Critics argue the move is “undemocratic”, as it prevents MPs from having a say on the debate. House of Commons speaker John Bercow described the move as a “constitutional outrage” and said its only purpose is to “stop [MPs] debating Brexit and performing its duty in shaping a course for the country”.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “Suspending Parliament is not acceptable, it is not on. What the prime minister is doing is a smash and grab on our democracy to force through a no deal.”
The move brought on protests in London, with hundreds gathering in Westminster chanting “stop the coup” and carrying EU flags and anti-Brexit placards.
Celebrities have also joined thousands of Brits in protesting the suspension, with actor Hugh Grant slamming Johnson in a Twitter post. “You will not f**k with my children’s future,” Grant wrote.
“You will not destroy the freedoms my grandfather fought two world wars to defend. F**k off you over-promoted rubber bath toy. Britain is revolted by you and you little gang of masturbatory prefects.”
You will not fuck with my children’s future. You will not destroy the freedoms my grandfather fought two world wars to defend. Fuck off you over-promoted rubber bath toy. Britain is revolted by you and you little gang of masturbatory prefects. https://t.co/Oc0xwLI6dI
— Hugh Grant (@HackedOffHugh) August 28, 2019
Actor and comedian Stephen Fry also criticised Johnson on Twitter, likening the PM to “children playing with matches, but spitefully not accidentally: gleefully torching an ancient democracy and any tattered shreds of reputation or standing our poor country had left”.
Weep for Britain. A sick, cynical brutal and horribly dangerous coup d’état. Children playing with matches, but spitefully not accidentally: gleefully torching an ancient democracy and any tattered shreds of reputation or standing our poor country had left.
— Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) August 28, 2019
Under Johnson’s plan, a Queen’s speech will be held on October 14 to mark the start of the new parliamentary session.
As the head of state, the Queen has to “remain strictly neutral with respect to political matters”, the Windsors’ official website stated.
According to Town & Country, the Queen’s approval of the parliament suspension is a “formality”, and “to have refused Johnson’s request would have been far more political”.
