THE NEWS which emerged yesterday of Boris Johnson’s plan to prorogue parliament, subsequently preventing the blocking of a No-Deal Brexit has outraged people across the world, but none more-so than within the UK itself.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth approved the Prime Minister’s request to suspend parliament between September 9th and October 14th, leaving ministers with just three days to prepare for a crucial Brexit summit.
Irish political leaders in particular responded with great concern to the news.
British politicians on both sides of the debate have also expressed their concern, with some saying the move is unconstitutional, undemocratic or simply illegal.
Regular citizens of the UK, who will be the most affected by the outcome of a No-Deal Brexit, took to the streets of Westminster yesterday in protest, blocking roads and shutting down traffic while waving Pro-EU flags and chanting 'Stop the Coup'.
"No one voted for Boris" sing the crowd.
Protesters sit & lie in the street to block traffic on Parliament Square.
Demonstration - now numbering thousands - has reached Downing Street.
Mood is upbeat but people are genuinely angry.
Police presence is discrete. #StopTheCoup pic.twitter.com/yYBMaK6OG0— Stefan Simanowitz (@StefSimanowitz) August 28, 2019
As well as physical protests, an official online Petition was launched to prevent the suspension of parliament.
The petition, titled simply “Do not prorogue Parliament”, was set up yesterday, and at time of writing has over 1.3 million signatures.
It is the policy of the UK parliament to discuss any petition which receives over 100,000 signatures, and with over 50,000 people signing in the last hour alone, it shows no sign of slowing down.
It sets out its goals as follows:
“Parliament must not be prorogued or dissolved unless and until the Article 50 period has been sufficiently extended or the UK’s intention to withdraw from the EU has been cancelled.”
If you are a British citizen or a resident in the UK you can add your voice by signing the petition here.
