Q&A: The PM’S plan to suspend Parliament

Boris Johnson has asked the Queen to prorogue Parliament, which will effectively suspend it for a month.

The Prime Minister insists he is doing so simply to set out his “exciting agenda” in a Queen’s Speech on 14 October.

But critics, including Commons Speaker John Bercow, have lambasted the move, calling it a “constitutional outrage” designed to stop MPS from intervening as the UK heads towards a no-deal Brexit on 31 October.

Here are some of the key questions and answers triggered by Wednesday’s move:

- What does prorogation mean?

Prorogation marks the end of a parliamentary session. The current session, which started on 21 June, 2017, with the last State Opening and Queen’s Speech, has been the longest in history.

- Who does it?

The Queen formally prorogues Parliament following guidance from the Privy Council, which is her body of advisers made up mainly of senior politicians.

- Why does Boris Johnson want to prorogue Parliament now?

A new Government brings with it new plans and legislation which are set out in a Queen’s Speech. Mr Johnson insists he has asked the Queen to bring about the end of the current session of Parliament so he can start anew.

- What happens during prorogation?

While Parliament is prorogued, MPS and peers cannot formally debate policy and legislation or make any laws of their own.

Parliamentary scrutiny is suspended and the powers of the Houses of Commons and Lords are effectively taken away until the next Queen’s Speech.

-Howlongwillparliament be prorogued for?

Prorogation normally tends to be for a short time – no longer than two weeks, with it leading to either a general election or the start of a new parliamentary session. Under the new plan, Parliament is set to be dissolved in the second week of its September sitting, possibly as early as Tuesday, 10 September, with MPS due to return for the Queen’s Speech on 14 October.

Parliament had been due to break for its conference recess for at least two weeks in the lead-up to October, even before the news of the prorogation broke, with Number 10 arguing that MPS are only losing an extra four sitting days in total.

- So why has the move sparked such anger?

There have been fears for a number of months that, should the Government not be able to strike an exit deal with the European Union, the Prime Minister could look to prorogue Parliament to prevent MPS from attempting to stop the UK leaving without a deal.

Critics believe this is what he is doing now.

- So could a snap general election still be on the cards?

Commentators saw the surprise announcement that Chancellor Sajid Javid will set out Whitehall spending budgets next week as a sign that the new administration was ramping up plans for an early election. But inviting the monarch to Parliament for the pomp and ceremony of the Queen’s Speech on 14 October would be an odd thing to do if the PM is planning a snap election. However, if opposition and rebel Tory MPS unite behind a noconfidence motion against the Government, that could force a an election.