Boris Johnson’s Parliament Suspension Prompts Growing Backlash
LONDON — Britain’s prime minister, Boris Johnson, faced a growing and angry backlash on Thursday as his decision to suspend Parliament next month prompted protests and legal challenges, and political opponents scrambled to salvage efforts to stop a disorderly Brexit.
The normally fractious opposition swiftly united in outrage at Mr. Johnson’s maneuver on Wednesday, which brought protesters onto the streets in London and other cities across the country, while an online petition against the action drew well over a million signatures.
[What did Boris Johnson just do to Parliament? An explainer.]
The move also strained relations within Mr. Johnson’s Conservative Party — whose Scottish leader, Ruth Davidson, is expected to resign on Thursday — and prompted claims from critics that the government is trampling the conventions of the country’s unwritten constitution, undermining its democracy.
On Wednesday Mr. Johnson had Queen Elizabeth II approve a plan to restrict the sittings of Parliament in September and October, reducing its prospects of legislating to prevent Britain from leaving the European Union without first reaching an agreement in Brussels.
Numerous reports by bodies including the Bank of England and the International Monetary Fund have said a “no deal” Brexit would be chaotic and would seriously damage Britain’s economy. Leaks from the government itself have warned of the possibility of jammed ports and shortages of some medicines and fuel.
A majority of lawmakers are on record as opposing such an outcome. But Mr. Johnson, who became prime minister last month, has promised to leave the European Union on the scheduled date, Oct. 31, preferably with an agreement but without one if necessary.
[With Brexit gambit, Boris Johnson reveals a ruthless side]
In an overnight poll, far more Britons opposed than supported his maneuver to limit the number of days left for no-deal opponents to act. The Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, and a senior Conservative lawmaker, Philip Hammond, each called it a “constitutional outrage.”
But Jacob Rees-Mogg, a hard-line Brexit supporter and the Conservative leader of the House of Commons, on Thursday defended the government’s decision, arguing that there would still be adequate time to debate Brexit. The real threat to Britain’s unwritten constitution, he wrote in The Daily Telegraph, came from those who opposed Brexit and who want to overturn the 2016 referendum decision to leave the bloc.
“The candyfloss of outrage that we’ve had over the past 24 hours — which is almost entirely confected — is from people who never wanted to leave the European Union,” Mr. Rees-Mogg said in an interview with BBC radio.
[Bold move or coup? A social media furor after Boris Johnson’s move.]
The suspension procedure was normal, he argued, because Mr. Johnson wanted to start a new session of Parliament.
While that is technically correct, the timing of the decision, the length of the suspension and its practical impact make the move look like a politically motivated tactic to stifle opposition in Parliament — an institution that Brexit was supposed to strengthen.
Mr. Johnson’s stance also suggests that he is preparing for a general election campaign, in which he could present himself as the champion of the people against a Parliament intent on thwarting the 2016 Brexit referendum.
Lawmakers are scheduled to return from a summer vacation next week but Mr. Johnson’s move means that Parliament will be suspended some time the following week, heading off any attempt by his opponents to tack on a few more days by shortening a scheduled break for annual political party conferences.
Boris Johnson Wants To Cut 5 Days From the Legislative Calendar, Pushing Parliament Closer to the Brexit Deadline
Before Boris Johnson’s latest move,
Parliament had about five weeks in session to debate a Brexit deal.
September
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Parliament
returns
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
Break for party
conferences
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
October
1
2
3
4
5
Parliament scheduled
to return
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
E.U. summit
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
31
Britain leaves the E.U.
But Mr. Johnson introduced a new parliamentary
session and delayed the return of lawmakers, leaving
less than three weeks until the Brexit deadline.
September
Brexit legislation
introduced
during these two weeks
will not carry over
into the new session
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
October
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
New session,
queen’s speech
and debates
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
E.U. summit
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
31
Britain leaves the E.U.
300px
Before Boris Johnson’s latest move,
Parliament had about five weeks in session to debate a Brexit deal.
Sept.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Parliament
returns
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
Break for party
conferences
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
1
2
3
4
5
Oct.
Parliament
scheduled
to return
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
E.U. summit
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
Britain leaves
the E.U.
27
28
29
30
31
31
But Mr. Johnson introduced a new parliamentary
session and delayed the return of lawmakers, leaving less than three weeks until the
Brexit deadline.
Sept.
Brexit legislation
introduced
during these two
weeks will not
carry over into
the new session
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
1
2
3
4
5
Oct.
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
New session,
queen’s speech
and debates
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
Britain leaves
the E.U.
27
28
29
30
31
31
By Allison McCann
His new timetable has Parliament resuming work on Oct. 14, after the party conferences and several days later than previously expected.
In addition, he has scheduled an address to Parliament on that date by the queen, laying out his government’s agenda, which lawmakers must then address.
In effect, he has cut short the already dwindling time for Parliamentary action before Oct. 31, and has packed it with other business.
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