This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48541352
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| John Bercow rejects ending Commons session to force no-deal Brexit | John Bercow rejects ending Commons session to force no-deal Brexit |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The Speaker of the House, John Bercow, says ending the current session of Parliament to force through a no-deal Brexit is "simply not going to happen". | The Speaker of the House, John Bercow, says ending the current session of Parliament to force through a no-deal Brexit is "simply not going to happen". |
| Tory leadership candidate Dominic Raab has suggested he would be prepared to shut down Parliament to ensure the UK leaves the EU on 31 October. | Tory leadership candidate Dominic Raab has suggested he would be prepared to shut down Parliament to ensure the UK leaves the EU on 31 October. |
| But the suggestion of using the process - known as prorogation - has led to criticism from many MPs. | But the suggestion of using the process - known as prorogation - has led to criticism from many MPs. |
| The SNP's Pete Wishart called the proposal a "subversion of democracy". | The SNP's Pete Wishart called the proposal a "subversion of democracy". |
| The current session has been going for almost two years - since the 2017 election - as it was extended to tackle the legislation for Brexit. | The current session has been going for almost two years - since the 2017 election - as it was extended to tackle the legislation for Brexit. |
| Shadow leader of the House, Valerie Vaz, told the Commons it was the longest session in Parliament since the 1800 Acts of Union. | Shadow leader of the House, Valerie Vaz, told the Commons it was the longest session in Parliament since the 1800 Acts of Union. |
| What is prorogation? | What is prorogation? |
| Every Parliamentary session - which usually lasts around a year, starting with the State Opening of Parliament and a Queen's Speech - is ended when it is "prorogued" by the Queen. | Every Parliamentary session - which usually lasts around a year, starting with the State Opening of Parliament and a Queen's Speech - is ended when it is "prorogued" by the Queen. |
| The process essentially closes Parliament and ends the progress of current legislation until a new session begins. | |
| Although it is technically at the Queen's "command", in practice it is the government's decision of when it happens. | Although it is technically at the Queen's "command", in practice it is the government's decision of when it happens. |
| How could it be used to push through no deal? | How could it be used to push through no deal? |
| If a new prime minister is concerned about MPs blocking the UK's exit from the EU, they could advise the Queen to prorogue Parliament. | If a new prime minister is concerned about MPs blocking the UK's exit from the EU, they could advise the Queen to prorogue Parliament. |
| This would send MPs away so that they cannot do anything in the Commons to hold up Brexit. | This would send MPs away so that they cannot do anything in the Commons to hold up Brexit. |
| However, it would be an unprecedented move in modern times to use this power for political reasons, rather than to end a session in preparation for a new Queen's Speech. | However, it would be an unprecedented move in modern times to use this power for political reasons, rather than to end a session in preparation for a new Queen's Speech. |
| What have MPs said? | What have MPs said? |
| The possibility of prorogation has arisen as part of the Tory leadership contest - which will also choose the UK's next prime minister - as the candidates battle over their vision for Brexit. | The possibility of prorogation has arisen as part of the Tory leadership contest - which will also choose the UK's next prime minister - as the candidates battle over their vision for Brexit. |
| After Mr Raab made his comments to a leadership hustings on Wednesday, his fellow contender, International Development Secretary Rory Stewart, called the suggestion "unconstitutional" and "undemocratic", adding: "It wouldn't work." | After Mr Raab made his comments to a leadership hustings on Wednesday, his fellow contender, International Development Secretary Rory Stewart, called the suggestion "unconstitutional" and "undemocratic", adding: "It wouldn't work." |
| Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd - who is not running - also condemned the proposal, saying: "I think it's outrageous to consider proroguing Parliament. We are not Stuart kings." | Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd - who is not running - also condemned the proposal, saying: "I think it's outrageous to consider proroguing Parliament. We are not Stuart kings." |
| The comments also led to a number of impassioned speeches in the Commons on Thursday. | The comments also led to a number of impassioned speeches in the Commons on Thursday. |
| Labour's Chris Bryant said it would be on "a Venezuelan scale of outrage" to carry it out "simply to force through a no-deal Brexit against the will of Parliament". | Labour's Chris Bryant said it would be on "a Venezuelan scale of outrage" to carry it out "simply to force through a no-deal Brexit against the will of Parliament". |
| Mr Wishart asked the Leader of the House, Mel Stride, to confirm that he had "no intention of suspending democracy in this country to facilitate that no-deal Brexit". | Mr Wishart asked the Leader of the House, Mel Stride, to confirm that he had "no intention of suspending democracy in this country to facilitate that no-deal Brexit". |
| Mr Stride said prorogation was "ultimately in the gift of the Queen", adding: "What I would say is, that I do think Her Majesty should be kept out of the politics of our Parliament. | Mr Stride said prorogation was "ultimately in the gift of the Queen", adding: "What I would say is, that I do think Her Majesty should be kept out of the politics of our Parliament. |
| "I'm sure that will be a matter that will be at the forefront of those who toy with those decisions in the future." | "I'm sure that will be a matter that will be at the forefront of those who toy with those decisions in the future." |
| Mr Bercow said it was not going to happen and his conclusion was "so blindingly obvious it almost doesn't need to be stated". | Mr Bercow said it was not going to happen and his conclusion was "so blindingly obvious it almost doesn't need to be stated". |