Suspension of Parliament a dark day for democracy, says Sturgeon
Nicola Sturgeon has said the decision by Boris Johnson to suspend Parliament is a “dark day for democracy” as fears were raised about the impact of the constitutional crisis on the devolution settlement.
The First Minister accused the Prime Minister of acting like a “dictator” by pushing through an “outrageous assault on basic democratic principles”.
She joined a chorus of outrage at the PM’S plan, under which the Commons would be shut down for more than a month in the run-up to Britain’s European Union departure date.
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said: “It’s intolerable that a man who has no mandate from the people to lead a government intends to suspend the democratic process for his own gain. Voters will see through this ploy and the sooner a general election is called and a Labour government is in power, the better.”
Willie Rennie, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, branded the events “an Eton coup and a democratic outrage” and added: “This process began with a democratic vote, it must not end with a behind-closeddoors stitch-up.” Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie condemnded Mr Johnson’s action and said it was time to “take back control” from him.
Ms Sturgeon said the Prime Minister’s actions made it “clearer than ever that Scotland cannot be properly served by a shambolic, crumbling Westminster system and that our future lies as an independent country”.
Mr Johnson, however, insisted there would be “ample time” for MPS to debate Brexit either side of an EU summit on 17 October – despite seeking a parliamentary suspension from around 11 September until the State Opening on 14 October.
Ms Sturgeon said: “Everybody knows that is typical Boris Johnson nonsense. I’ve rarely heard a flimsier or more transparent cover story. Everybody knows what this is about. It’s about restricting Parliament from blocking a no-deal. Brexit was about returning control to the House of Commons and now we have the Prime Minister trying to shut down Parliament. It is beyond outrageous.”
She added: “This is a dark day for democracy. Attempting to shut down Parliament to force through a no-deal Brexit is an outrageous assault on basic democratic principles.
“In doing so, Boris Johnson is acting more like a dictator than a Prime Minister in what is still supposed to be a parliamentary democracy. If MPS don’t stop it, it’s not hyerbole to say any semblance of UK democracy dies.”
The SNP leader said the PM’S plan would be “fiercely resisted” by her party and other opposition politicians in the Commons, urging Conservatives who are “concerned about the direction their party and Government is taking” to speak out against the Government.
She piled pressure on Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson to condemn Mr Johnson’s actions, although hours later it was revealed that Ms Davidon is on the verge of quitting.
SNP MP Joanna Cherry claimed that the suspension of Westminster on a “whim” of the Prime Minister could lead to him suspending the Scottish Parliament on a similar “whim”.
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack, who cancelled media interviews which had been scheduled to take place in Edinburgh yesterday morning, addressed journalists gathered outside the Scotland Office and said: “I’m absolutely delighted the Prime Minister is going to have a Queen’s Speech on October 14. It’s a very good step forward in having a Queen’s Speech. We’ve had a long Parliament.
“We need a Queen’s Speech to deliver, as he said on the steps of Downing Street, an exciting legislative programme for this new Government.
“What will then happen is there will be a debate on that and there will be time enough to discuss Brexit and many other things in the Queen’s Speech ahead of us, hopefully getting a good deal from the Europeanunionatthecouncil of Ministers meeting on October 17.”
Mr Jack added: “This is the conference recess with a few days added on. We don’t need to come back and prorogue Parliament for the Queen’s Speech, we’ll do it before we leave. We’ll have the Queen’s Speech and there’s ample time for debate.”
After the surprise announcement on Tuesday that Chancellor Sajid Javid will set out Whitehall spending budgets next week, there was speculation that a snap general election could be called. Ms Sturgeon told Mr Johnson to call one before the end of October, tweeting: “Bring it on. Have the courage of your convictions, Boris Johnson. Call an election now.”
“Brexit was about returning control to the House of Commons and now we have the Prime Minister trying to shut down Parliament”
NICOLA STURGEON
‘In the face of this assault on democracy, it is vital that MPS from across the political divide urgently pull together’
Without a mandate, without a majority and in a blatant plot to impose a catastrophic no-deal Brexit, Boris Johnson announced he would shut down Parliament under the guise of a Queen’s Speech to move ahead with plans to push through an extreme Brexit.
The manoeuvre to suspend Parliament weeks before the October deadline would curtail Parliament and deny MPS the chance to hold this Tory government to account and prevent it from inflicting lasting economic and social harm.
Make no mistake about it, such a move is not just utterly disgraceful, it is inherently undemocratic. This brazen attack on democracy has all the traits of a dictatorship and it underlines yet again just how broken and unfit for purpose Westminster really is.
Since the EU referendum more than three years ago, MPS and the devolved governments have been sidelined and shunned as the Tories have lurched even further to the extremes with their damaging Brexit plans.
That is why, in the face of this assault on democracy, it is vital that MPS from across the political divide urgently pull together to prevent Mr Johnson from dragging Scotland and the UK off the cliff-edge.
The SNP has consistently worked across party lines to stop Brexit and prevent a no-deal disaster, which we know will cost thousands of jobs and hit people’s livelihoods. That is a price that Scotland must not pay.
It is now clear beyond doubt that the only way to properly protect Scotland’s interests is by becoming an equal and independent European country. It is no wonder that support for independence and a fresh referendum is higher than ever.