webfact Posted August 28, 2019 Share Posted August 28, 2019 British PM to suspend parliament before Brexit, opposition denounces 'coup' By William James and Kate Holton Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during a news conference at the end of the G7 summit in Biarritz, France, August 26, 2019. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Boris Johnson will suspend Britain's parliament for more than a month before Brexit, enraging opponents and raising the stakes in the country's most serious political crisis in decades. Cheered on by U.S President Donald Trump, Johnson launched his boldest move yet to take the country out of the European Union by Oct. 31 with or without a divorce deal, by setting a new date for a state opening of parliament. Known as the Queen's Speech, the formal event will be held on Oct. 14 and be preceded by a suspension of the House of Commons, meaning parliament will not sit between mid-September and mid-October. The move, which had to be approved by Queen Elizabeth, limits the time opponents have to derail a disorderly Brexit, but also increases the chance that Johnson could face a vote of no-confidence in his government, and possibly an election. It also risks dragging the 93-year-old, politically neutral queen into the dispute. So incensed were leaders of the opposition parties by Johnson's plan that several have written to the monarch asking for a meeting to express their concern. The queen acts on the advice of her prime minister. Her office declined to comment. Her speech at the opening of parliament is written by the government, outlining its plans for legislation. "There will be ample time in parliament for MPs (members of parliament) to debate the EU, to debate Brexit and all the other issues, ample time," Johnson told reporters. 2019-08-28T112637Z_1_LOV000L7BF3UD_RTRMADV_STREAM-2000-16X9-MP4_BRITAIN-EU-JOHNSON.MP4 British Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to hold a Queen's Speech in mid-October, a move that will see parliament suspended for a month and limit lawmakers' time to block a no-deal Brexit. David Doyle reports. Asked if he was trying to block MPs from delaying Britain's EU departure, he replied: "That is completely untrue." While suspending parliament ahead of a Queen's Speech is the historical norm in Britain, the decision to limit parliamentary scrutiny weeks before the country's most contentious policy decision in decades prompted an immediate outcry. "Make no mistake, this is a very British coup," John McDonnell, the second most powerful man in the opposition Labour Party, said. More than half a million people signed an online petition to object and the pound fell sharply. Cries of "Shame on You" and "Stop the Coup" could be heard from inside the walls of the parliamentary estate, as a couple of hundred protesters gathered near the bank of the River Thames to wave EU flags and show their disgust. "Democracy is so important. It's taught from such a young age as such a vital thing about being a British person and today just completely ruins that, tramples it and throws it out," said 17-year-old student Dylan Butlin, one of the protesters. In a sign that Johnson's move had marked a significant escalation in the long-running dispute, a group of cross-party lawmakers sought a legal injunction and the speaker of parliament said the nation's democratic process was at risk. The Church of England said a chaotic Brexit would hurt the poor and further damage a fractured nation. But Johnson's gamble was welcomed by Brexiteers, including Trump, an early backer of Britain's departure from the EU, who said "Boris is exactly what the U.K. has been looking for, & will prove to be 'a great one!' Love U.K." A spokeswoman for the European Commission, when asked about the British suspension of parliament, said it was a matter for Britain to answer. UNCHARTED TERRITORY More than three years after the United Kingdom voted 52% to 48% to quit the European Union, it is still unclear on what terms the bloc's second largest economy will leave the club it joined in 1973. With just 65 days until exit day, parliamentarians are battling to prevent the prime minister from steering the country out of the EU without a transition deal, pitching one of Europe's most stable countries into uncharted territory. On Tuesday, the leaders of Britain's opposition parties had agreed to seek to use parliamentary procedure to force Johnson to ask Brussels for a delay to Brexit beyond Oct. 31. They may now try to bring him down. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he would call a no-confidence vote when the time was right. With Johnson holding a working majority of just one seat in the 650-seat parliament, members of his party who oppose a no-deal Brexit will have to decide where their loyalties lie. The pro-EU Conservative Party lawmaker Dominic Grieve said he would find it difficult to "keep confidence in the government" in the circumstances while Philip Hammond, a former finance minister, said pro-EU politicians needed to act now. In a sign of the pressure building across the political system, media reports said Ruth Davidson, who led a resurgence for the Conservatives in Scotland, had decided to quit. The BBC said her resignation, expected to be announced on Thursday, was not sparked by the suspension but had been coming for several months due to family pressures and disagreements with Johnson's approach. She sits in the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh and not Westminster. STERLING FALLS Sterling fell sharply, losing around a cent against the U.S. dollar and the euro, as investors took the news as a sign that a no-deal Brexit, was more likely. Johnson argued, however, that the move was designed to allow his government to press on with its domestic agenda. He says he wants to agree a divorce deal with Brussels but needs the bloc to change its stance on a key sticking point around neighbour Ireland first. A leading campaigner in the 2016 Brexit referendum, he has also said Britain must leave the EU to maintain the nation's faith in politics. Dean Turner, economist at UBS Wealth Management, said their base case remained that a no-deal Brexit would not occur on Oct. 31 and that an election would follow. "It forces the hand (of Johnson's opponents), compelling them to act sooner and more decisively if they wish to do so," he said. Parliament returns from its summer break on Sept. 3 before typically breaking up two weeks later to allow political parties to hold their annual conferences. Returning again on Oct. 14 would leave just over two weeks until Britain is due to quit the EU on Oct. 31. Those lawmakers opposed to a no-deal Brexit will likely have to make their move next week if they are to avoid running out of time. (Additional reporting by William Schomberg, David Milliken, Costas Pitas, Paul Sandle, Andy Bruce, Iona Serrapica and Alistair Smout; Writing by Kate Holton, Editing by Angus MacSwan) -- © Copyright Reuters 2019-08-29 Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Samui Bodoh Posted August 28, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted August 28, 2019 11 minutes ago, webfact said: Cheered on by U.S President Donald Trump, Johnson launched his boldest move yet to take the country out of the European Union by Oct. 31 with or without a divorce deal "Cheered on by President Donald Trump..." If something is cheered on by Trump, that alone should set off alarm bells. The Brexit debate has gone on for so long that I am not going to bother trying to make a detailed argument, I'll simply make the analogy that leaving the EU without a transition agreement is the equivalent of moving out of a house without another house lined up; it defies common sense. I have said it before and will say it again... Never before have I seen a country so utterly determined to shoot itself in the crotch 19 1 2 6 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Laughing Gravy Posted August 28, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted August 28, 2019 Well done that man and to her Majesty. 30 1 11 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Thailand Posted August 28, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted August 28, 2019 No doubt Boris and his cronies are picking out their uniforms and planning their first military parade and fly over. Farcical, and the sterling peso continues it's descent in to oblivion. 7 2 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Laughing Gravy Posted August 28, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted August 28, 2019 24 minutes ago, Thailand said: No doubt Boris and his cronies are picking out their uniforms and planning their first military parade and fly over. Farcical, and the sterling peso continues it's descent in to oblivion. Talk about melodramatics. Your post gets first prize. 21 2 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Snackbar Posted August 28, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted August 28, 2019 ‘Sterling fell sharply’ - by 0.08% The actual figure is -0.02% Wow..... run for the hills, descent into oblivion for the world’s fifth largest economy - project nonsense. 9 1 1 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Topdoc Posted August 28, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted August 28, 2019 The best news since the referendum result 21 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Boon Mee Posted August 29, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted August 29, 2019 Boris Johnson is a very smart man.!???? 11 1 2 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post kamahele Posted August 29, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted August 29, 2019 2 hours ago, Laughing Gravy said: Well done that man and to her Majesty. Like she has a choice 6 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jonnapat Posted August 29, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted August 29, 2019 "" Cheered on by Trump "" Things are now going from bad to worse, suspending parliament is the last straw for British democracy. Sad event for a once proud nation now ploughing the depths. Never thought I would be ashamed of my own country. 9 1 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jonnapat Posted August 29, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted August 29, 2019 2 hours ago, Boon Mee said: Boris Johnson is a very smart man.!???? Says the habitual Trump supporter ! 2 1 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Thailand Posted August 29, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted August 29, 2019 2 hours ago, Laughing Gravy said: Talk about melodramatics. Your post gets first prize. My melodramatics have claimed my first ever first prize in three score years and ten plus a bit more. Just shows you should never give up success may be just around the corner. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Estrada Posted August 29, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted August 29, 2019 2 hours ago, Snackbar said: ‘Sterling fell sharply’ - by 0.08% The actual figure is -0.02% Wow..... run for the hills, descent into oblivion for the world’s fifth largest economy - project nonsense. Not nonsense, descending into oblivion, the UK already slipped to be the 6th largest economy, and we haven't even left the EU yet. The GB Pound dropped by 0.7% from 1.22937 to 1.22087 against the US$ not 0.08%. The GB Pound has dropped 23% against the US$ since the BREXIT referendum, which 63% of the British people did not vote for. So don't say it was the will of the people. Brexiteers told me at the time not to worry because Farage told them that the pound would recover within 3 weeks!!!!!!!!! Just got my British pension in Thai Baht which is down 32% since the referendum. 11 2 2 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post evadgib Posted August 29, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted August 29, 2019 4 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said: "Cheered on by President Donald Trump..." If something is cheered on by Trump, that alone should set off alarm bells. The Brexit debate has gone on for so long that I am not going to bother trying to make a detailed argument, I'll simply make the analogy that leaving the EU without a transition agreement is the equivalent of moving out of a house without another house lined up; it defies common sense. I have said it before and will say it again... Never before have I seen a country so utterly determined to shoot itself in the crotch WTO fulfills the role of the new house whereas remaining umbilically connected to the EU would see UK indefinatley paying two mortgages plus legal fees. To quote Maggie; "No!, No!, No!" 10 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post JAG Posted August 29, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted August 29, 2019 (edited) 4 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said: The Brexit debate has gone on for so long that I am not going to bother trying to make a detailed argument, I'll simply make the analogy that leaving the EU without a transition agreement is the equivalent of moving out of a house without another house lined up; it defies common sense. I agree that being cheered on by Donald Trump is less than desirable. Few, if any of us consider that he has any part to play in this business. You often make these analogies. both regarding crotch shooting and moving house. But I suggest that you miss two fundamental points, The British electorate have twice voted to leave the EU, both in the election, and in the subsequent general election. The "crotch shooting" is due to the duplicitous actions of a government, which whilst elected (as were the principal opposition) on a platform of honouring the referendum result and securing exit, failed to make any real effort to do so, and in fact arguably colluded with the EU to produce a "deal" which would have reduced the EU to an economic vassal of the EU. They are responsible for this mess. Secondly, we are living in, and own our own house. We intend to continue doing so. We are just resolved that our neighbours should not tell us which rooms we should use as living rooms or bedrooms, and what colour tiles we should put on the wall in the bathroom. As an outsider (Canadian I believe), does not the evident intransigence of the EU when it comes to any negotiation, and their demands for arbitrary amounts of money, irrespective of the terms on which we leave, at the very least hint at this? Edited August 29, 2019 by JAG 10 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post wombat Posted August 29, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted August 29, 2019 with all these clowns crying foul may i remind them that democracy died in the UK 3 years ago. 4 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Bluespunk Posted August 29, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted August 29, 2019 (edited) 5 hours ago, webfact said: Asked if he was trying to block MPs from delaying Britain's EU departure, he replied: "That is completely untrue." Liar. Edited August 29, 2019 by Bluespunk 3 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wombat Posted August 29, 2019 Share Posted August 29, 2019 5 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said: "Cheered on by President Donald Trump..." If something is cheered on by Trump, that alone should set off alarm bells. The Brexit debate has gone on for so long that I am not going to bother trying to make a detailed argument, I'll simply make the analogy that leaving the EU without a transition agreement is the equivalent of moving out of a house without another house lined up; it defies common sense. I have said it before and will say it again... Never before have I seen a country so utterly determined to shoot itself in the crotch er....no...wrong. leave first, deal later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caldera Posted August 29, 2019 Share Posted August 29, 2019 May he (Boris) live in interesting times. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post norfolkc Posted August 29, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted August 29, 2019 Boris is doing what the majority of the British people voted for to leave the EU that is democracy not the remainer's type where the majority are ignored 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post VillageIdiot Posted August 29, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted August 29, 2019 5 hours ago, Laughing Gravy said: Well done that man and to her Majesty. Hear! Hear! Johnson's Brussels is a warren of bureaucratic redoubts in which lurk a Ministry of Dangerous Balloons, a Ministry of Tiny Condoms, and a Ministry of Flavourless Crisps. In this theater of the absurd, it never matters whether the stories are true; what matters is that they are ludicrous enough to fly under the radar of credibility and hit the sweet spot where preexisting prejudices are confirmed. Johnson is not just highly popular as a comic anti-politician but, for many of his compatriots, the embodiment of that patriotic treasure, the English eccentric. There is a long tradition of embracing the eccentric [though in reality only the upper-class male eccentric] as proof of the English love of liberty and individualism in contrast to the slavishness of the European continentals. John Stuart Mill associated eccentricity with "strength of character" but Johnson has been able to turn it upside down - his very weakness of character provides for his admirers a patriotically heartening proof that the true English spirit has not been chewed up in the homogenizing maw of a humourless and excessively organized EU. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Stupooey Posted August 29, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted August 29, 2019 11 minutes ago, wombat said: er....no...wrong. leave first, deal later. A referendum has little to do with Democracy - just ask Maggie Thatcher, among others. (And why have you posted this claptrap twice in twenty minutes? Do you think if you inflict it on us enough times it will somehow become true?). 4 2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post superal Posted August 29, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted August 29, 2019 Remainers are saying suspending the government is not democracy and will be challenged with a judicial review . Well for my money the MPs , who have gone against their constituents who voted to leave , are not only flouting democracy but are in a position where they are supposed to serve their electorate and clearly they have failed to do that and therefore should be sacked and replaced by persons without ulterior motives or conflicts of interests .They are trying to prolong this 3 year debacle that has caused very much damage to the UK currency . There is light at the end of the tunnel and a brighter future for the UK under the assertive BJ , maybe one more twist to come in this saga and that is a general election which the Brexiteers will win handsomely . 11 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ballpoint Posted August 29, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted August 29, 2019 1 hour ago, JAG said: Secondly, we are living in, and own our own house. We intend to continue doing so. We are just resolved that our neighbours should not tell us which rooms we should use as living rooms or bedrooms, and what colour tiles we should put on the wall in the bathroom. As an outsider (Canadian I believe), does not the evident intransigence of the EU when it comes to any negotiation, and their demands for arbitrary amounts of money, irrespective of the terms on which we leave, at the very least hint at this? Yes, you will continue to live in your own house, but you are physically moving it out of a gated estate where, though you do pay common fees for upkeep of the facilities, you also get to use those facilities, plus the security of being part of a larger grouping when dealing with tradesmen and those who would seek to disrupt your way of life. Instead, the entire house is being bodily moved to a new, isolated location, where all your utilities must not only be reconnected, but also bargained for, and new deals with the tradesmen renegotiated as a much smaller consumer. In addition, there are serious doubts about whether the house can structurally take the strain of being moved, as it is a rather old one and pieces are already falling off of it even before the process has begun. There are even fears that the entire northern wing will remain firmly planted in the gated estate and be torn away from the rest of the house as it lopsidedly makes the move to its new location. Of greater concern to many though, is that no serious planning has been done as to how to deal with the fact that the outhouse is physically connected to that of its neighbouring one, and relies on it for much of its foundation strength. In fact, no serious planning has been done for the entire move. 5 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post sawadee1947 Posted August 29, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted August 29, 2019 6 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said: "Cheered on by President Donald Trump..." If something is cheered on by Trump, that alone should set off alarm bells. The Brexit debate has gone on for so long that I am not going to bother trying to make a detailed argument, I'll simply make the analogy that leaving the EU without a transition agreement is the equivalent of moving out of a house without another house lined up; it defies common sense. I have said it before and will say it again... Never before have I seen a country so utterly determined to shoot itself in the crotch Yes, I agree. I even think it's time to make changes in the UK constitution to establish a parliamentary democracy with a President. ???? 1 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post sawadee1947 Posted August 29, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted August 29, 2019 6 hours ago, Laughing Gravy said: Well done that man and to her Majesty. What a dirty and disgusting game this man is playing with a helpless Queen 2 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Nigel Garvie Posted August 29, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted August 29, 2019 5 hours ago, Snackbar said: ‘Sterling fell sharply’ - by 0.08% The actual figure is -0.02% Wow..... run for the hills, descent into oblivion for the world’s fifth largest economy - project nonsense. 2 hours ago, Estrada said: Not nonsense, descending into oblivion, the UK already slipped to be the 6th largest economy, and we haven't even left the EU yet. The GB Pound dropped by 0.7% from 1.22937 to 1.22087 against the US$ not 0.08%. The GB Pound has dropped 23% against the US$ since the BREXIT referendum, which 63% of the British people did not vote for. So don't say it was the will of the people. Brexiteers told me at the time not to worry because Farage told them that the pound would recover within 3 weeks!!!!!!!!! Just got my British pension in Thai Baht which is down 32% since the referendum. Indeed, just overtaken by India, and forecast to fall to 7th this year when overtaken by France. In terms of PPP already a pathetic 9th. "Project Nonsense" please get a grip. It would be helpful if Brexiteers would just put a little effort into keeping up with the facts, the problem with living in the so called glorious past. "Descent into oblivion" is probably premature, but a No Deal Brexit would certainly accelerate our travel in that direction. 5 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denim Posted August 29, 2019 Share Posted August 29, 2019 In another headline from the Independant : Over 1 million sign petition urging Boris Johnson not to suspend parliament. Let's see ....... that means 1/67 th of the population So that must mean 66 million people without the means to buy a biro ? ( not withstanding toddlers who can't write yet ) Wow ..........hard times in the UK. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-petition-suspend-parliament-boris-johnson-sign-a9083031.html 1 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blazes Posted August 29, 2019 Share Posted August 29, 2019 9 minutes ago, sawadee1947 said: What a dirty and disgusting game this man is playing with a helpless Queen Aw, poor Brenda...she who faced WW2 bombs from inside Buck House. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mavideol Posted August 29, 2019 Share Posted August 29, 2019 UK Democracy ? ???? prefer not to comment 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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