With the clocking ticking on Brexit, it looks like PM Boris Johnson is making some desperate measures. The government is all set to ask the Queen to suspend Parliament just days after MPs return to work in September and a few weeks before the Brexit deadline. Boris Johnson's admin is likely to make way for a Queen's speech, to explain to the people regarding the government's plan on October 14. Prorogation or suspending of parliament, would not give MPs enough time to create a law that could prevent the prime minister from taking the UK out of the EU without a deal.
In the meantime, EU told PM Boris Johnson that Britain will be solely to blame if it crashes out of the EU in a chaotic “no-deal” Brexit. EU countries have challenged Johnson to come up with workable alternatives to the “Irish backstop” arrangements that he insists must be changed and Juncker used a phone call with the British leader to insist the bloc would not be to blame if things fall apart.
Johnson is adamant the withdrawal agreement struck by May — rejected by his lawmakers three times — is dead in the water and changes must be made, particularly on arrangements for the border between EU member Ireland and British-ruled Northern Ireland.
Johnson as of on July 26, said that it is the job of the parliament to get this thing done. He also said that he was "marginally more optimistic" about striking a new Brexit deal. Johnson said that "I think it's what the people want, I also think, by the way, it's what our friends and partners on the other side of the Channel want — they want it over."
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in the meantime had said that he would call for a vote of no confidence to prevent a no-deal Brexit and Johnson responded by saying that, “One of my many missions in life is to protect the people of this country from the appalling consequences of a Labour government."
Opposition MPs have condemned moves to suspend the parliament. Labour deputy leader Tom Watson tweeted that the move was an "utterly scandalous affront to our democracy".
"It's time a new government and new PM set out a plan for the country after we leave the EU," the BBC quoted a Downing Street source as saying.
Government will hold a Queen's Speech, just as all new governments do, said James Cleverly, the chairman of the ruling Conservative Party, indicating that the reports of a parliamentary suspension were likely to be confirmed soon.
— With inputs from PTI
