Boris Johnson has dismissed accusations that proroguing parliament is anti-democratic as a ‘load of nonsense’.

The Prime Minister suspended parliament last night for a period of five weeks, with MPs not due to sit again until October 14.

Today, during a visit to a London primary school, he said: ‘We need a Queen’s Speech – that’s why Parliament is in recess now because you always have a recess before a Queen’s Speech.

‘Anybody who says it’s all – this stuff about it being anti-democratic – I mean donnez-moi un break. What a load of nonsense.

‘We were very, very, clear that if people wanted a democratic moment, if they wanted an election, we offered it to the Labour opposition and mysteriously they decided not to go for it.’

He added: ‘So we’re going to get on. More free schools, more police, better hospitals – upgrading our hospitals – and coming out on October 31.’

Last night the Commons rushed through a series of back-to-back motions before parliament was suspended in the early hours of the morning.

Shortly before the prorogation ceremony, a group of Labour MPs held up placards saying ‘silenced’ in front of the Speaker’s chair.

Speaking out against the suspension, John Bercow said: ‘I’m perfectly happy to play my part, but I do want to make the point that this is not a standard or normal prorogation.

‘It is one of the longest for decades, and it represents, not just in the minds of many colleagues but for huge numbers of people outside an act of Executive fiat.’

As Tory MPs protested, he then shouted out: ‘I could not give a flying flamingo what your view is!’

Earlier in the evening Boris’ second application for an early General Election was defeated by MPs, with 293 votes against the motion to just 46.

While the Benn-Bill was passed through the House of Lords, making it now illegal for the UK to leave the EU on October 31 without a deal.

However, the Prime Minister is continuing to insist that he will not be asking for an extension to the deadline.

A spokesperson for Downing Street said: ‘The government will obey the law but the Prime Minister will not be asking for an extension.

‘The Prime Minister’s Government will not be extending the Article 50 process. We will be leaving on October 31.’

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