General election: Boris Johnson plans pre-Christmas Queen's Speech if Tories win
Downing Street says Boris Johnson would call for a Queen's Speech on 19 December if he remains prime minister after the election.
Monday 25 November 2019 16:11, UK
MPs could vote on Boris Johnson's Brexit deal before Christmas if the Conservatives win a majority in the general election.
Downing Street has said that Mr Johnson would call for a Queen's Speech on 19 December if he remains prime minister after the election.
If this happens, the state opening of parliament would go ahead with "reduced ceremonial elements".
In their manifesto unveiled on Sunday, the Conservatives pledged to "start putting our deal through parliament before Christmas" if they win the 12 December poll.
Mr Johnson has said the reintroduction of his Withdrawal Agreement Bill, which would ratify his deal with Brussels, in December would be an "early Christmas present" for voters.
The planned date of the Queen's Speech raises the prospect of MPs potentially having to sit on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day to debate and vote on Brexit legislation.
An exact timetable would be set out by the government after the election.
A Number 10 statement said: "Should this prime minister return, the state opening of parliament and the Queen's Speech will follow on Thursday December 19.
"The state opening of parliament will take place with reduced ceremonial elements, as was the case following the early general election in 2017.
"This is due both to the early general election and the proximity of the state opening to Christmas."
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The Queen was scheduled to attend the opening of parliament next month alongside Prince Charles.
But the 19 December is when she would typically leave for her festive break at Sandringham.
Downing Street said that if Mr Johnson was not PM after the election, it would be down to the incoming government to set a "more usual timetable", which officials would expect to happen in January.
The last state opening of parliament took place on 14 October, 10 days before Mr Johnson successfully pushed for an early election.
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