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Blond Charles asks Queen to prorogue parliament from second week of September (between 9th and 14th are the orders) for five weeks till 14th October, she consents which, after Queen Speech gives enough time to rush a deal through Westminster but would make it near impossible for any efforts to block no deal. Tories arguing new government always seek to do their own Queen's Speech (makes it a lot harder for legal challenge), covers party conference break, Queen's speech will allow them to bring through new bills, session is longest in 400 years, this is extremely normal. DUP back it due to length of current session and will review their confidence and supply deal, various opposition leaders are asking for a meeting with the queen, Rees-Mogg calls it a normal procedure (8 days is normal, five weeks has not been done since the war)
-SNP to speed up legal challenge against prorogation (Gina Miller is seeking urgent judicial review in London), Sturgeon calls for MP's to work together to stop a dark day for democracy and challenges Ruth Davidson to rally Scottish Tories, Corbyn calls it reckless and McDonnell a very British coup and warns "Whatever one’s views on Brexit, once you allow a prime minister to prevent the full and free operation of our democratic institutions you are on a very precarious path.”. Baroness Chakrabarti calls it unlawful and unconstitutional, will unite Remainers. Hansard Society says it would be longest since 1945 and is an affront to democracy
-Bercow is so so keen "I have had no contact from the Government, but if the reports that it is seeking to prorogue Parliament are confirmed, this move represents a constitutional outrage. However it is dressed up, it is blindingly obvious that the purpose of prorogation now would be to stop Parliament debating Brexit and performing its duty in shaping a course for the country.At this time, one of the most challenging periods in our nation’s history, it is vital that our elected Parliament has its say. After all, we live in a parliamentary democracy.
“Shutting down Parliament would be an offence against the democratic process and the rights of Parliamentarians as the people’s elected representatives. Surely at this early stage in his premiership, the Prime Minister should be seeking to establish rather than undermine his democratic credentials and indeed his commitment to Parliamentary democracy. My family and I are away on holiday and I will make no further comment at this stage.”
-MPs are furious, Caroline Lucas "The act of a cowardly PM who knows his reckless No Deal Brexit will never gain the support of MPs." the best line, Brake sees this as a declaration of war against parliament "His declaration of war will be met with an iron fist", Sir Grieve says he will consult with others on how to stop it and thinks no confidence vote is now more likely,s. Hammond calls it profoundly undemocratic but Hannan argues "A prorogation normally happens every autumn. This parliamentary session has lasted three years - the longest since the Civil War. What kind of screwed-up mindset do you need to see the long-overdue return of constitutional normality as "a coup"?".
Clive Lewis says police will have to remove him from Westminster, Lord Falconer "Prorog to reduce Parl scrutiny is unconstitutional. Ok to have short prorog to mark end of one parl session and beginning of next, or immediately prior to GE. 2010, 3 days, 2012, 7 days, 2013, 12 days, 2014 , 20 days, 2015, 3 days, 2016, 5 days, 2016, 6 days. This is 5 weeks.", Baroness Smith
tears into Boris-Verhofstadt "Taking back control" has never looked so sinister. As a fellow parliamentarian, my solidarity with those fighting for their voices to be heard. Suppressing debate on profound choices is unlikely to help deliver a stable future EU - UK relationship."
-Clever by Boris and co (as anti-democratic and shameful as they are), people will see the date as pre-Brexit and wonder what the complaints are about while the time-scale (if this goes through) makes it near impossible for no deal-block to be blocked. He loses? He can try to call an election turning parliament vs parliament and hang the consequences to the social fabric and long term future of the country when one plays such dangerous game. The Queen and her advisers won't thank him, he gave her a nightmare problem (I suspect she has made wrong call given his lack of majority) and dragged her deep into politics.
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Sir Vince Cable retiring at next election with Twickenham to have all female shortlist and speculation he has (partly) stood aside to tempt a potential female defector. Will be missed in the Commons he has served so well, Lib Dems have often struggled for attention but as economic spokesperson his fine mind and the economic crises combined well, he made his economic arguments well in Commons and on TV, there was also the Mr Bean cutting remark that was devastating to Gordon Brown. In Coalition he felt less effective as Osborne had likes of Hancock keep a very strong eye on him at business and looked foolish as he boasted about power he had over Murdochs but he remained an articulate and charismatic spokesperson. Lost his seat in Clegg wipe out but returned quickly but when he finally got chance as leader, mixed bag.
He struggled for media attention, spasmed conference speech, he seemed to lack cut through and the old power seemed gone, facial when missing key Brexit vote as Lib Dems had not anticipate it would be so close. However his strong pro-Remain stance and the stances of other parties, he managed to make Lib Dem the party of Remain, having strong local and Eurpeon elections when he had already decided to go. Leaves party stronger then inherited.
Sir Cable as his best was a very clever heavyweight economic mind added to a sense of humour, thoughtfulness and charisma, activists loved him and he knew how to get them happy or how to play to their dislikes, he led his party and he worked in cabinet which many Lib Dems of many generations have only dreamt of. Always highly ambitious, this led him to irritate others and sometimes announce policies without talking to Lib Dem cabinet first, he only got the crown he wanted quite late perhaps due to that as MP's were not always happy with him.
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-Papers on Prince Andrew, spending review and Brexit
-Javid says there will be no blank cheques for extra spending (has he told Boris this?) and will stick to fiscal rules but will be more for health, schools and police
-Home Office advert for EU citizens on what to do after Brexit has been banned for being misleading
-SNP conference is on October 14th.
-Sterling nosedives
-Barclay questions EU countries talking about how important citizen rights are after Brexit yet not giving UK citizens the same rights UK are giving EU citizens, parliament won't allow the people of N.Ireland to be subject to continued alignment for indefinite period and governed by rules of which they have no say (N.Ireland people... support the backstop), border issue should be alongside trade talks rather then sequenced as they are now. Convey says they can not support abolishing backstop a nobody has yet to come up with an acceptable alternative
-Trump "Would be very hard for Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of Britain’s Labour Party, to seek a no-confidence vote against New Prime Minister Boris Johnson, especially in light of the fact that Boris is exactly what the U.K. has been looking for, & will prove to be “a great one!” Love U.K." There has not been the same outcry at interference in our politics as when Obama said back of the queue from Brexiteers. Corbyn responded "I think what the US president is saying, is that Boris Johnson is exactly what he has been looking for, a compliant Prime Minister who will hand Britain's public services and protections over to US corporations in a free trade deal."
-Sports Minister Nigel Adams wants lessons learnt from Bury's collapse, Damian Collins says his select committee will be looking into this
-People remembering Hancock's "Proroguing Parliament undermines parliamentary democracy and risks a general election. I rule it out and call on all candidates to do the same" and noting his silence today
-Heavy heavy heavy (as in will happen) rumours Ruth Davidson is to resign tomorrow. She had been planned to go for awhile apparently due to family commitments (recently had child) but Brexit and Boris have taken a toll and the timing of the announcement (tomorrow is expected) feels deliberate.
-Welsh Assembly to be recalled early and sit on September 5th onwards
-Channel 4 Hayley Barlow on our brave brave leaders "Today #c4news asked the government for a minister to discuss suspension of Parliament but Downing St said they wanted the PM's brief clips shared by broadcasters to speak for itself. Jeremy Corbyn gave a similar TV clip where he also wasn't asked a series of in-depth questions."
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-James Frith questions why Bolton got an extra extension and Bury have been expelled, Ivan Lewis says Bury can still be saved
-Rory Stewart responds to Boris tweet about Brexit with intro to Little Britain
-Jay Aston Colquhounis of Bucks Fizz running for Brexit party
-Sir Major seeking legal advice and comments ‘I cannot imagine Mr Disraeli, Mr Gladstone, Mr Churchill or Mrs Thatcher even in their most difficult moments saying let us put parliament aside while I carry through this difficult policy that a part of my party disagrees with.’
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-Aditya Chakrabortty
not a fan of leaked education plans-Tim Worstall
denies there is a Brexit divorce bill-Luke de Pulford
Tories have to stand up for Hong Kong-Ross Clark (sun)
Remainers hypocritical on trade-Behr
Labour have no vision on Europe-Tom Kibasi
Boris strategy
