Brexit: Queen consents to suspension of parliament for five weeks – live

Government will prorogue parliament in September, with Queen’s speech on 14 OctoberFull report: Suspension could prevent attempts to block no-deal BrexitQ&A: What is prorogation and why is Boris Johnson using it?Tom Kibasi: Boris Johnson wants a ‘people v parliament’ election 2.57pm BST The former Tory deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine has just put out a statement after hearing about the news of what’s happening in the UK while on holiday in the Balkans. Like a range of others, he says it’s a constitutional outrage.“On hearing the news whilst on holiday in Montenegro, I am appalled by the government’s announcement,” he said. “The government’s decision is a constitutional outrage. A government which is frightened of parliament is frightened of democracy. I hope that every member of parliament, in feeling this humiliation, will use every legal and constitutional weapon to obstruct a government proposing to force on the British people a historic change for which they have long since lost any mandate.” 2.53pm BST My colleagues Lisa O’Carroll and Heather Stewart report that constitutional experts are saying the prime minister’s plan to prorogue parliament for five weeks will be the longest suspension of the British legislature since 1945. They said it appeared to be designed to evade scrutiny of his plans for Brexit or any new deal with the EU. Ruth Fox, the director of the highly respected Hansard Society, a leading source of independent research and advice on parliamentary affairs, said it was an “affront to parliamentary democracy”. Related: PM’s plan to prorogue parliament is longest suspension since 1945 Continue reading…
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