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| Parliament suspension sparks furious backlash | Parliament suspension sparks furious backlash |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The prime minister's decision to suspend Parliament has prompted an angry backlash from MPs and campaigners. | |
| Hundreds of people protested in London on Wednesday and a petition against the move gained a million signatures. | |
| Earlier the Queen approved Boris Johnson's request to suspend Parliament for five weeks in September and October - weeks before the Brexit deadline. | |
| Opponents say it will leave MPs with little time to stop a no-deal Brexit. | Opponents say it will leave MPs with little time to stop a no-deal Brexit. |
| But cabinet minister Michael Gove insisted the suspension was "certainly not" a political move to stop MPs blocking a no deal. | But cabinet minister Michael Gove insisted the suspension was "certainly not" a political move to stop MPs blocking a no deal. |
| Instead, he told the BBC there would be "plenty of time" to debate Brexit before the scheduled departure date of 31 October. | Instead, he told the BBC there would be "plenty of time" to debate Brexit before the scheduled departure date of 31 October. |
| On Wednesday, Mr Johnson said a Queen's Speech would take place after the suspension, on 14 October, to outline his "very exciting agenda". | On Wednesday, Mr Johnson said a Queen's Speech would take place after the suspension, on 14 October, to outline his "very exciting agenda". |
| He said he did not want to wait until after Brexit "before getting on with our plans to take this country forward". | He said he did not want to wait until after Brexit "before getting on with our plans to take this country forward". |
| Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn described it as "a smash and grab on our democracy" in order to force through a no deal by not leaving enough time to pass laws in Parliament - and pledged to try to stop the suspension. | Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn described it as "a smash and grab on our democracy" in order to force through a no deal by not leaving enough time to pass laws in Parliament - and pledged to try to stop the suspension. |
| The prime minister says he wants to leave the EU at the end of October with a deal, but is willing to leave without one rather than miss the deadline. | The prime minister says he wants to leave the EU at the end of October with a deal, but is willing to leave without one rather than miss the deadline. |
| What has been the reaction from politicians? | What has been the reaction from politicians? |
| House of Commons Speaker John Bercow - who does not traditionally comment on political announcements - described it as a "constitutional outrage". | House of Commons Speaker John Bercow - who does not traditionally comment on political announcements - described it as a "constitutional outrage". |
| Former Tory Chancellor Philip Hammond called it "profoundly undemocratic". | Former Tory Chancellor Philip Hammond called it "profoundly undemocratic". |
| The leader of the Liberal Democrats, Jo Swinson, said it was a "dangerous and unacceptable course of action". | The leader of the Liberal Democrats, Jo Swinson, said it was a "dangerous and unacceptable course of action". |
| Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said MPs must come together to stop the plan next week, or "today will go down in history as a dark one indeed for UK democracy". | Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said MPs must come together to stop the plan next week, or "today will go down in history as a dark one indeed for UK democracy". |
| Others, though, have defended the plan. | Others, though, have defended the plan. |
| Leader of the House Jacob Rees-Mogg, who was at the meeting with the Queen, said the move was a "completely proper constitutional procedure." | Leader of the House Jacob Rees-Mogg, who was at the meeting with the Queen, said the move was a "completely proper constitutional procedure." |
| US President Donald Trump tweeted his support for Mr Johnson, saying it "would be very hard" for Mr Corbyn to seek a no-confidence vote against the PM, "especially in light of the fact that Boris is exactly what the UK has been looking for". | US President Donald Trump tweeted his support for Mr Johnson, saying it "would be very hard" for Mr Corbyn to seek a no-confidence vote against the PM, "especially in light of the fact that Boris is exactly what the UK has been looking for". |
| The leader of the DUP, Arlene Foster, also welcomed the decision, but said the terms of her party's confidence and supply agreement with the Conservatives would now be reviewed. | The leader of the DUP, Arlene Foster, also welcomed the decision, but said the terms of her party's confidence and supply agreement with the Conservatives would now be reviewed. |
| What anger has there been elsewhere? | |
| On Wednesday evening protesters gathered in Westminster chanting "stop the coup" and carrying anti-Brexit placards and EU flags. | On Wednesday evening protesters gathered in Westminster chanting "stop the coup" and carrying anti-Brexit placards and EU flags. |
| The demonstration - organised hours beforehand - started outside Parliament before spreading towards Downing Street. | The demonstration - organised hours beforehand - started outside Parliament before spreading towards Downing Street. |
| At the scene, BBC correspondent Richard Galpin described the atmosphere as peaceful and lively. | At the scene, BBC correspondent Richard Galpin described the atmosphere as peaceful and lively. |
| Several protesters he spoke to indicated this was only the beginning of the disruption, with more demonstrations being organised for the weekend. | Several protesters he spoke to indicated this was only the beginning of the disruption, with more demonstrations being organised for the weekend. |
| Meanwhile, an e-petition on the government's website demanding Parliament not be suspended had reached 970,000 signatures by 22:40 BST. | Meanwhile, an e-petition on the government's website demanding Parliament not be suspended had reached 970,000 signatures by 22:40 BST. |
| Anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller - who previously won a legal battle against ministers over Article 50 - has also made a judicial review application to the courts about Mr Johnson's decision. | Anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller - who previously won a legal battle against ministers over Article 50 - has also made a judicial review application to the courts about Mr Johnson's decision. |
| What happened on Wednesday? | What happened on Wednesday? |
| Three Conservative members of the Queen's Privy Council took the request to suspend Parliament to the monarch's Scottish residence in Balmoral on Wednesday morning on behalf of the prime minister. | Three Conservative members of the Queen's Privy Council took the request to suspend Parliament to the monarch's Scottish residence in Balmoral on Wednesday morning on behalf of the prime minister. |
| It has now been approved, allowing the government to suspend Parliament no earlier than Monday 9 September and no later than Thursday 12 September, until Monday 14 October. | It has now been approved, allowing the government to suspend Parliament no earlier than Monday 9 September and no later than Thursday 12 September, until Monday 14 October. |
| Mr Johnson wrote to MPs to outline his plan, adding: "There will be a significant Brexit legislative programme to get through but that should be no excuse for a lack of ambition!" | Mr Johnson wrote to MPs to outline his plan, adding: "There will be a significant Brexit legislative programme to get through but that should be no excuse for a lack of ambition!" |
| He also called on Parliament to show "unity and resolve" in the run up to the 31 October so the government "stands a chance of securing a new deal" with the EU. | He also called on Parliament to show "unity and resolve" in the run up to the 31 October so the government "stands a chance of securing a new deal" with the EU. |
| But a senior EU source told the BBC's Brussels correspondent Adam Fleming the bloc's position was clear and was not contingent on the machinations of the UK Parliament. | But a senior EU source told the BBC's Brussels correspondent Adam Fleming the bloc's position was clear and was not contingent on the machinations of the UK Parliament. |
| What about the legal challenge? | What about the legal challenge? |
| A number of high profile figures, including former Prime Minister John Major, have threatened to go to the courts to stop it, and a legal challenge led by the SNP's justice spokeswoman, Joanna Cherry, is already working its way through the Scottish courts. | A number of high profile figures, including former Prime Minister John Major, have threatened to go to the courts to stop it, and a legal challenge led by the SNP's justice spokeswoman, Joanna Cherry, is already working its way through the Scottish courts. |
| After the announcement, Sir John said he had "no doubt" Mr Johnson's motive was to "bypass a sovereign Parliament that opposes his policy on Brexit", and he would continue to seek legal advice. | After the announcement, Sir John said he had "no doubt" Mr Johnson's motive was to "bypass a sovereign Parliament that opposes his policy on Brexit", and he would continue to seek legal advice. |
| It is not possible to mount a legal challenge to the Queen's exercise of her personal prerogative powers. | It is not possible to mount a legal challenge to the Queen's exercise of her personal prerogative powers. |
| But anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller - who previously won a legal battle against ministers over Article 50 - has made a judicial review application to the courts about Mr Johnson's decision. | But anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller - who previously won a legal battle against ministers over Article 50 - has made a judicial review application to the courts about Mr Johnson's decision. |
| She told the BBC's Clive Coleman: "If the intention of using this prorogation - and the effect - is that it limits Parliament sovereignty, then we believe that's illegal and unconstitutional." | She told the BBC's Clive Coleman: "If the intention of using this prorogation - and the effect - is that it limits Parliament sovereignty, then we believe that's illegal and unconstitutional." |
| Prorogation in a nutshell | Prorogation in a nutshell |
| Shutting down Parliament - known as prorogation - happens after the prime minister advises the Queen to do it. | Shutting down Parliament - known as prorogation - happens after the prime minister advises the Queen to do it. |
| BBC royal correspondent Jonny Dymond said it was established precedent to prorogue Parliament before a Queen's Speech, albeit generally more briefly, and rarely, if ever, at such a constitutionally charged time. | BBC royal correspondent Jonny Dymond said it was established precedent to prorogue Parliament before a Queen's Speech, albeit generally more briefly, and rarely, if ever, at such a constitutionally charged time. |
| Parliament is normally suspended - or prorogued - for a short period before a new parliamentary session begins, during which time no debates and votes are held. | Parliament is normally suspended - or prorogued - for a short period before a new parliamentary session begins, during which time no debates and votes are held. |
| It is different to "dissolving" Parliament - where all MPs give up their seats to campaign in a general election. | It is different to "dissolving" Parliament - where all MPs give up their seats to campaign in a general election. |
| If this prorogation happens as expected, it will see Parliament closed for 23 working days. | If this prorogation happens as expected, it will see Parliament closed for 23 working days. |
| MPs cannot block prorogation. | MPs cannot block prorogation. |