TheCable

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has asked Queen Elizabeth II for permission to suspend parliament for five weeks.

The members of parliament (MPs), who are currently on summer break, are expected to resume on September 3.

In a letter to his colleagues, Johnson said the current parliamentary session had lasted over 340 days “and needs to be brought to a close”.

“In almost 400 years only the 2010-12 session comes close, at 250 days. Bills have been introduced, which, while worthy in their own right, have at times seemed more about filling time in both the Commons and the Lords, while key Brexit legislation has been held back to ensure it could still be considered for carry-over into a second session. This cannot continue,” Johnson said.

According to him, the break will also give MPs more time to debate the approach to Brexit upon resumption, adding that the new parliamentary session will start with a Queen’s speech on October 14.

“I therefore intend to bring forward a new bold and ambitious domestic legislative agenda for the renewal of our country after Brexit. There will be a significant Brexit legislative programme to get through but that should be no excuse for a lack of ambition! We will help the NHS, fight violent crime, invest in infrastructure and science and cut the cost of living,” he said.

“This morning I spoke to Her Majesty The Queen to request an end to the current parliamentary session in the second sitting week in September, before commencing the second session of this Parliament with a Queen’s speech on Monday 14 October. A central feature of the legislative programme will be the Government’s number one legislative priority, if a new deal is forthcoming at EU Council, to introduce a Withdrawal Agreement Bill and move at pace to secure its passage before 31 October.

“I fully recognise that the debate on the Queen’s Speech will be an opportunity for Members of Parliament to express their view on this Government’s legislative agenda and its approach to, and the result of, the European Council on 17-18 October. It is right that you should have the chance to do so, in a clear and unambiguous manner.

“I also believe it is vitally important that the key votes associated with the Queen’s Speech and any deal with the EU fall at a time when parliamentarians are best placed to judge the Government’s programme. Parliament will have the opportunity to debate the Government’s overall programme, and approach to Brexit, in the run up to EU Council, and then vote on this on 21 and 22 October, once we know the outcome of the Council. Should I succeed in agreeing a deal with the EU, Parliament will then have the opportunity to pass the Bill required for ratification of the deal ahead of 31 October.”

However, the Brexit deal will be due on October 31 and if the prorogation is approved, MPs will be left with less time to introduce legislation aimed at preventing a no-deal Brexit.

MPs have accused Johnson of planning to frustrate their efforts against a no-deal Brexit but the prime minister said the allegation is “completely untrue”.

He said he did not want to wait until after Brexit “before getting on with our plans to take this country forward”, adding that there would still be “ample time” for MPs to debate the UK’s departure from the European Union.

The British Pound has since dropped in value following Johnson’s announcement.

£1 is now worth €1.0997. Before the announcement was made public, £1 was worth €1.10644.

The pound also lost its ground against the dollar. £1 was worth $1.22805 at 8 am, falling to $1.21720 an hour later.