Boris Johnson suspends parliament: What happens now with Brexit?
Wednesday 28 August 2019 18:46, UK
Boris Johnson's request to suspend parliament from the middle of next month has been approved by the Queen, a move that restricts MPs' ability to block a no-deal Brexit in the process.
So what happens now - and can opponents of a no-deal divorce still stop it from happening?
Sky News looks at how the next couple of months could pan out.
MPs return to Westminster
Parliament's summer break ends next Tuesday, on 3 September.
Since Mr Johnson came to office, this date has been expected to mark the commencement of hostilities in the parliamentary battle over Brexit.
Opposition parties held a meeting on Tuesday and agreed to pursue "legislative approaches" to stopping a no-deal Brexit.
In layman's terms, this means passing a law to force Mr Johnson to extend Article 50 - the section of an EU treaty that sets the deadline for a country to negotiate its exit from the bloc.
But just a day later, the PM has decisively moved to curtail their room for manoeuvre.
A matter of days after MPs return to Westminster next week, parliament will be prorogued.
What is proroguing?
Prorogation is essentially a more fancy term for suspending parliament.
It marks the end of a parliamentary session and the action is formally taken by the Queen following guidance from the Privy Council, her body of advisers made up of mostly senior politicians.
It is usually seen as a routine occurrence ahead of a general election or the start of a new parliamentary session.
Prorogation is normally for a short amount of time, no longer than two weeks.
Why is Boris Johnson doing this?
The PM has insisted he is suspending parliament in order to set out his "exciting agenda" in a Queen's Speech on 14 October.
Having taken over from Theresa May in Downing Street, Mr Johnson wants to start anew and set out his plans and priorities.
Under his plan, parliament will be suspended in the week beginning 9 September and will not return until 14 October.
But the PM's critics say this is a shoddily devised smokescreen designed to hide his real intentions.
Why are many MPs so angry?
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 Commons and Lords are effectively taken away until the next parliamentary session begins.
MPs smell a rat.
They fear that Mr Johnson has suspended parliament in order to prevent MPs from trying to stop Britain leaving the EU without a deal on 31 October.
The PM has said this is "completely untrue" and there will be "ample time" for MPs to debate Brexit ahead of that deadline.
Parliament had been due to go on recess for two weeks for the party conference season - with the Lib Dems (14-17 September), Labour (21-25 September) and Conservatives (29 September-2 October) all holding their annual gatherings.
Number 10 has argued that MPs are losing only an extra four sitting days in total as a result of prorogation, although they could have voted against the conference recess to give themselves more time.
The PM has pledged to deliver Brexit at the end of October come what may, without a deal if necessary.
A majority of MPs are opposed to no-deal because they fear it will cause economic disruption and hit numerous aspects of day-to-day life in Britain.
So have the chances of stopping no-deal been torpedoed?
Not entirely, but there is no doubt the PM's move has made things more difficult for opponents.
It means parliament will lose a number of sitting days, so MPs will have to act fast once they return to the Commons.
One way they could do so is seize control of the business of the House, which is usually controlled by the government.
They would then seek to legislate to force the PM to extend Article 50.
This approach worked back in the spring, but there is a major stumbling block to this plan.
The last time MPs took control of the Commons order paper, they did so through a route stemming from the EU Withdrawal Act.
If the government offers no legislation to the Commons between now and 31 October - with a no-deal Brexit naturally not requiring a ratifying "meaningful vote" on a withdrawal agreement - MPs might have little to no chance of putting their plans into practice.
The Institute for Government warned in a report published earlier this month: "If MPs were concerned that the prime minister wanted the UK to leave the EU without a deal against the will of a Commons majority, they might try to pass similar legislation again.
"This time, there may be no such motions to amend. MPs would therefore need to seek other opportunities to seize control."
Mr Johnson's move to suspend parliament could also give fresh impetus to the idea of a no-confidence motion in his government.
As outlined above, some MPs are not too keen on this idea as it could result in Mr Corbyn becoming PM.
But these latest developments may have changed the minds of some.
A third option, albeit one with far less teeth, is to apply to the Speaker for an emergency debate on the issue under the rules of standing order number 24 (SO24).
If the UK is heading to a no-deal Brexit, MPs could use this method to express their displeasure at the looming outcome.
These debates traditionally consider motions in "neutral terms", which means they cannot be amended - for example, to compel government action - and are not legally binding.
However, there may be scope for SO24 to take control of the order paper.
In March, Speaker John Bercow told Labour MP Helen Goodman: "She should reflect upon the opportunities that the SO24 procedure presents, because the opportunities are fuller than has traditionally been acknowledged or taken advantage of by members of the House of Commons."
On this, the IfG said: "If that interpretation is correct, then MPs could either table a motion under SO24 explicitly taking control of the Commons' agenda (hoping the Speaker would allow it), or try to amend a motion to achieve the same goal (hoping the Speaker would select the amendment).
"If MPs were successful in taking control of parliamentary time, they could use that time to introduce legislation forcing the government's hand on Brexit."
The IfG warned, however, this would "be a significant departure from current convention".
Could MPs still vote for a deal?
Although much of the coverage of the early days of the Johnson administration has focused on the prospect of a no-deal Brexit, it should be remembered that a deal could yet still be approved.
Such a prospect might seem remote, but it remains a possibility.
Sky News political correspondent Lewis Goodall argues that the PM's move shows he is "committed to an agreement".
The thinking goes that the government wants to ride things out until a summit with EU leaders on 17 October, where Mr Johnson could secure changes to Theresa May's Brexit deal and then put the new agreement to a vote in the days leading up to 31 October.
"Every other option, save for a deal, will have been exhausted and terrified Remainer MPs - convinced that Boris Johnson will go for no-deal in a way Theresa May would not - will vote for it, with a gun to their head," Goodall writes.