THE Government could be suspended days after MPs return to Westminster - just weeks before the Brexit deadline - according to reports.
The BBC's political editor, Laura Kuenssberg, says the move will make way for Boris Johnson's new administration to hold a Queen's Speech - laying out the government's future plans - on 14 October.
MP's would be unlikely to have time to pass any laws that could stop a no deal Brexit on October 31.
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The Prime Minister's plan will be considered in a Privy Council meeting at the Queen's Balmoral estate, according to reports.
The House of Commons is currently expected to resume sitting after its summer break on September 3 and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and other opposition leaders have agreed to seek legislative changes to prevent a no deal Brexit.
But, according to the BBC, the Prime Minister will seek to suspend Parliament from around September 11 until the Queen's Speech - a process known as prorogation.
Johnson govt to hold Queen's speech on 14th October, will be confirmed by privy council at Balmoral today - No 10 says it's all biz as usual for a new govt, but has useful political side effect that denies MPs time to try to stop no deal
— Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) August 28, 2019
A No 10 source told the BBC: "It's time a new government and new PM set out a plan for the country after we leave the EU."
In a letter to all MPs, the Prime Minister said the new Queen's speech will be to "help the NHS, fight violent crime, invest in infrastructure and science and cut the cost of living."
"This morning I spoke to Her Majesty The Queen to request an end to the current parliamentary session in the second sitting week in September, before commencing the second session of this Parliament with a Queen's speech on Monday 14 October," he said.
Mr Johnson said, despite the break, Parliament "will have the opportunity to debate the Government's overall programme, and approach to Brexit, in the run up to EU Council, and then vote on this on 21 and 22 October."
"Member States are watching what Parliament does with great interest and it is only by showing unity and resolve that we stand a chance of securing a new deal that can be passed by Parliament," he added.
"In the meantime, the Government will take the responsible approach of continuing its preparations for leaving the EU, with or without a deal."
Shutting down Parliament - known as prorogation - has caused controversy, with critics saying it would be undemocratic.
So far, more than 200 MPs have signed the Church House Declaration - a cross-party pledge to resist attempts to shut down Parliament and force through a no deal Brexit.
Labour MP for Torfaen Nick Thomas-Symonds said: “Parliament holds the Government to account - in these exceptional times this scrutiny is more important than ever.
“The answer for any PM is not to shut down Parliament in order to silence it.
“Boris Johnson’s decision is reckless and I can assure all constituents who have contacted me I am totally opposed to it.”
Newport East MP Jessica Morden, also of Labour, said the move was "reckless and undemocratic."
“Yesterday I signed the Church House Declaration pledging to take action to stop a no deal Brexit," she said.
"The Government’s plan to suspend Parliament – pushing us closer to no deal – is reckless and undemocratic. I will work with MPs from all sides to resist this.”
Nick Smith, the Labour MP for Blaenau Gwent, described the move as "just plain wrong", and confirmed he would be signing the Church House Declaration.
“The Tory Government’s attempt to silence Parliament is utterly reckless, undemocratic and just plain wrong," he said.
“During these turbulent times, it is more vital than ever that Parliament is able to hold the Government to account.”
Or to put it another way:
— James Cleverly MP (@JamesCleverly) August 28, 2019
Government to hold a Queen’s Speech, just as all new Governments do. https://t.co/fgKSmLdOzb
In response to the reports of a parliamentary suspension, Tory Party chairman James Cleverley said: "Or to put is another way: Government to hold a Queen's Speech, just as all new governments do."
And Welsh Conservative leader Paul Davies AM said: “As this is a new Government with a new Prime Minister it is appropriate that a Queen’s Speech takes place so that the Government can set out its priorities.
"This is the normal Parliamentary process and if the UK Government didn’t do it then opponents would soon complain if it wasn't done.”
As this is a new Govt with a new Prime Minister it is appropriate that a Queen’s Speech takes place so that the Govt can set out its priorities. This is the normal Parliamentary process and if the UK Govt didn’t do it then opponents would soon complain if it wasn't done!
— Paul Davies AM/AC (@PaulDaviesPembs) August 28, 2019
Neil Hamilton, AM for Mid and West Wales and Leader of UKIP Wales, welcomed the Prime Minister’s plans to suspend Parliament in order to deny MPs the opportunity to frustrate Brexit.
“This is a brave and welcome move by Boris," he said. "At last we have a Prime Minister who respects and is working to deliver what the people voted for in 2016.
“I am delighted by the Prime Minister’s plans to suspend Parliament. Yesterday’s meeting of Remainer MPs, plotting in the shadows to stop a no deal Brexit, was utterly disgraceful and provocative.
"Boris Johnson is absolutely right to take this action in response.
"The involvement of Plaid Cymru in these talks is hypocritical and embarrassing. The majority of Wales voted Leave in the 2016 referendum. The so-called “Party of Wales” should respect the will of the people of Wales.
“Make no mistake, while they pontificate about the ‘will of Parliament’, these Remainer MPs are actively working against ‘the will of the people’.
"They don’t just want to stop No Deal but to stop Brexit altogether. They are the democratic outrage and I applaud Boris’s masterstroke to outwit them.”
Plaid Cymru’s Westminster leader, Liz Saville Roberts MP, said: “This is a cynical and fundamentally anti-democratic move by a man who sees no hypocrisy in shutting down parliament after arguing that leaving the European Union would somehow reinforce the sovereignty of parliament.
“It is a move that you would expect from an autocratic ruler than the Prime Minister of a modern democracy.
“Faced with what could be the most serious abuse of power in living memory, we must do everything we can to defend representative democracy against this undemocratic coup d’état, and I see no exaggeration in calling it just that.
“I am glad that many parties agreed to put rivalries aside yesterday and to work together to find a legislative route to stop Boris Johnson from forcing a crash out Brexit on the people of Wales and the rest of the UK. Plaid Cymru is now ready to do dedicate all our energy to doing that.”
Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds MP described the PM's move as "insulting, disgraceful and anti-democratic."
She said: “Boris Johnson cannot be allowed to silence Parliament to drive through a catastrophic no deal Brexit he knows Parliament will block.
“I was elected to be the voice of my constituents in Parliament. By shutting down Parliament, he is shutting out the public and their voice.
"It’s an insulting, disgraceful and anti-democratic scheme to impose a devastating no deal Brexit on the Welsh people.
“Boris Johnson will find it’s much harder to silence me than he realises. Alongside my Liberal Democrat colleagues in Parliament, I will do all I can to fight this outrageous move, to block no deal and to stop Brexit.”
Former First Minister Carwyn Jones AM described the move as "an abuse of power" and accused the PM of "running away from accountability and scrutiny."
"Boris Johnson is trying to suspend British democracy," he said. "This unelected Prime Minister is showing utter contempt for the people and their elected representatives, by denying them the time in Parliament to debate and discuss the implications of a No Deal Brexit, which will affect each and every one of us.
"Boris Johnson is trying to suspend British democracy and this cannot be allowed. He would see Parliament prevented from carrying out its purpose and duty.
"It was said that Brexit would return power to ‘Parliament’. Prorogation destroys that lie. Now power is in the hands of a privileged and prosperous elite claiming to be acting in the name of the people. All the while Wales and the rest of the UK, hurtles towards the disaster of a No Deal Brexit.”
More to follow.
The Prime Minister's letter to MPs in full:
Dear Colleague,
I hope that you had an enjoyable and productive summer recess, with the opportunity for some rest ahead of the return of the House.
I wanted to take this opportunity to update you on the Government's plans for its business in Parliament.
As you know, for some time parliamentary business has been sparse. The current session has lasted more than 340 days and needs to be brought to a close - in almost 400 years only the 2010-12 session comes close, at 250 days. Bills have been introduced, which, while worthy in their own right, have at times seemed more about filling time in both the Commons and the Lords, while key Brexit legislation has been held back to ensure it could still be considered for carry-over into a second session. This cannot continue.
I therefore intend to bring forward a new bold and ambitious domestic legislative agenda for the renewal of our country after Brexit. There will be a significant Brexit legislative programme to get through but that should be no excuse for a lack of ambition!
We will help the NHS, fight violent crime, invest in infrastructure and science and cut the cost of living.
This morning I spoke to Her Majesty The Queen to request an end to the current parliamentary session in the second sitting week in September, before commencing the second session of this Parliament with a Queen's speech on Monday 14 October. 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.
I fully recognise that the debate on the Queen's Speech will be an opportunity for Members of Parliament to express their view on this Government's legislative agenda and its approach to, and the result of, the European Council on 17-18 October. It is right that you should have the chance to do so, in a clear and unambiguous manner.
I also believe it is vitally important that the key votes associated with the Queen's Speech and any deal with the EU fall at a time when parliamentarians are best placed to judge the Government's programme. Parliament will have the opportunity to debate the Government's overall programme, and approach to Brexit, in the run up to EU Council, and then vote on this on 21 and 22 October, once we know the outcome of the Council. Should I succeed in agreeing a deal with the EU, Parliament will then have the opportunity to pass the Bill required for ratification of the deal ahead of 31 October.
Finally, I want to reiterate to colleagues that these weeks leading up to the European Council on 17/18 October are vitally important for the sake of my negotiations with the EU. Member States are watching what Parliament does with great interest and it is only by showing unity and resolve that we stand a chance of securing a new deal that can be passed by Parliament. In the meantime, the Government will take the responsible approach of continuing its preparations for leaving the EU, with or without a deal.
The Leader of the Commons will update the House in the normal fashion with regard to business for the final week. For now, I can confirm that on Monday 9 September both Houses will debate the motions on the first reports relating to the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019 (NIEFA). Following these debates we will begin preparation to end the Parliamentary session ahead of a Queen's Speech.
The Business Managers in both Houses will shortly engage with their opposite numbers, and MPs more widely, on plans for passing a deal should one be forthcoming. Decisions will also need to be taken about carrying over some of the bills currently before the House, and we will look to work constructively with the Opposition on this front. If agreement cannot be reached we will look to reintroduce the bills in the next session, and details on this will be set out in the Queen's Speech.
As always my door is open to all colleagues should you wish to discuss this or any other matter.
Yours sincerely,
The Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP
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