Prime Minister Boris Johnson has prorogued parliament for a 5-week period from 11th September until a new Queen’s Speech to be held on 14th October.
The move has met with controversy. Mr Johnson and No. 10 officials claim that the constitutional procedure is required to bring forward the legislative agenda of his ‘new’ government. By contrast, many observers see the extended shutdown of parliament as an attempt to prevent MPs from blocking a no deal Brexit and legal challenges have been brought to overturn the move.
The prorogation effectively curtails the opportunity for MPs to debate the issue at a crucial stage when they could have attempted either to introduce legislation to stop the UK leaving the EU without a deal on 31st October or to hold a vote of no confidence against the current government.
Whilst those options remain open, prorogation means that the coming week is likely to see the final showdown over no deal, with those MPs opposed to the idea making a last-ditch attempt to prevent it from happening.
There is also the strong possibility that the Prime Minister will put down a motion calling for the dissolution of parliament and triggering a general election, again designed to force through a no deal outcome by bypassing parliament.
Whichever course events take, this week will see the seismic battle between the opposing sides of the debate reach fever pitch. Make no mistake, after the summer lull, Brexit is back with a bang.
