Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday announced his plans to implement a suspension of Parliament ahead of the Queen’s Speech on October 14, which will effectively limit the time MPs have to try to block a no deal Brexit. The move sparked fury among many MPs, with those trying to stop a no deal Brexit branding the decision a “constitutional outrage”, as demonstrators took to the streets at Westminster on Wednesday evening. Speaking on Sky News, shadow chancellor John McDonnell admitted the “problem” for those trying to block a no deal exit.

Sky presenter Colin Brazier asked: “I understand you wouldn’t want to go into specifics. How can you secure an extension?

“Order the Executive, so seek an extension from Brussels if for instance, with Parliamentary time being as limited as it is, you would guess, you would have Conservative peers in the House of Lords filibustering until you run out of time?”

Mr McDonnell replied: “You’re right, you have hit exactly upon our problem. That is exactly why Boris Johnson has moved to prorogue Parliament. To restrict the time available for a proper and I think appropriate Parliamentary debate and decision-making process.

“I think actually there are a large number of MPs and in the House of Lords now, people recognise they have a responsibility on their shoulders now. That goes beyond party loyalty.

“This is about democracy and a traditional democracy in our country that people have fought to establish. We cannot allow a Prime Minister to override that.”

He added: “The position we are in at the moment is looking at a legislative intervention next week.

“We will focus on that, and what we will do and Jermey Corbyn brought all the opposition leaders together, it was an incredible productive and positive meeting and we have all agreed on the strategy we are pursuing and that is what we will hold to.”

Earlier this week, opposition parties met and said they would do everything in their power to try to block a no deal exit from the Brussels bloc.

It followed a debate around the potential for a no-confidence vote, in which the Lib Dems instantly rejected any move to support Mr Corbyn as an interim Prime Minister.

You’re right, you have hit exactly upon our problem

John McDonnell

But on Wednesday, Mr Johnson stunned opponents of no deal, as he announced the Government would implement an extended suspension of Parliament ahead of the Queen’s Speech on October 14.

Campaigners against a no deal Brexit accused the Prime Minister of “trashing the constitution” after the Government’s plans to prorogue Parliament in the lead-up to the October 31 Brexit deadline.

But, Mr Johnson insisted it was “completely untrue” that he would deny time to MPs to debate Britain’s departure from the EU.

He said: “There will be ample time on both sides of that crucial October 17 Summit in Parliament for MPs to debate the EU, Brexit and all the other issues.”

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Defending the decision on Thursday morning, Leader of the House, Jacob Rees-Mogg, said the move was not intended to limit the time available for MPs to debate Brexit but will allow the Government to tackle other issues.

He said: “I think the outrage is phoney and it is created by people who don’t want us to leave the European Union and are trying very hard to overturn the referendum result and don’t want the benefits of leaving the European Union.”

He added: “Parliament wasn’t going to be sitting for most of this time anyway. This is completely constitutional and proper.”

Campaigner, Gina Miller, who won a High Court case against the Government over the involvement of Parliament in Britain’s departure from the bloc, issued fresh proceedings to challenge prorogation.

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