Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News 20240714

Is a constitutional outrage. Suspending parliament is not acceptable its not on what the pm is doing is a sort of smash n grab on our democracy in order to force through a no deal exit from the eu whats he so afraid of . Ruth davidson is on the verge of resignation as the leader of the scottish conservatives. She is said tonight to be considering her position. League one Football Team Bolton Wanderers have announced theyve been saved with their administrators securing the clubs sale to Football Ventures limited. And a huge hoard of silver coins found in North Somerset dating back good evening. Boris johnson has made a controversial move to suspend parliament in september for about five weeks, in the run up to the october 31st brexit deadline. The queen approved the Prime Ministers move, which means the current parliamentary session will end just days after mps return from their summer break. Parliament will only resume less than three weeks before the end of october for the queens speech when Boris Johnson plans to lay out his new agenda. He said the decision was all about moving forward with the countrys future. But its provoked fierce political criticism from all sides who say its a consititutional outrage and a smash and grab on our democracy Closing Parliament to force through a no deal brexit. The scottish conservative leader, Ruth Davidson, says shes now considering her position. Our Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg reports on the days events. Shutting up shop, the Prime Minister request, the gates will claim shut foran request, the gates will claim shut for an extra few days next month. The beds not take place, mps will not vote or stand in the way of borisjohnson. Not vote or stand in the way of Boris Johnson. Making sure that we have the Education Funding that we need and there will be ample time on both sides of that crucial october the 17th summit, ample time in parliament for mps to debate. To debate the eu, brexit and all the other issues. Ample time. It is not unusualfor a other issues. Ample time. It is not unusual for a new prime other issues. Ample time. It is not unusualfor a new Prime Minister to close parliament for a short while to press reset and announced a new programme of what they want to do. But it is intensely controversial to do it now because justice Boris Johnson is determined that we leave the eu at the end of even without a deal, a huge group of mps is determined to stop him from doing that and by squeezing their time, it squeezes their chances. One former minister said it was a declaration of war. Suddenly the first big shot and afight of war. Suddenly the first big shot and a fight that has been brewing since borisjohnson and a fight that has been brewing since Boris Johnson moved and a fight that has been brewing since borisjohnson moved into number ten and the outrage is shared by signatories too. At a time of National Crisis they have to hold the government to account to represent our constituency up and down that is proved profoundly undemocratic. Profoundly undemocraticm profoundly undemocratic. It is not acceptable, it is not on what the Prime Minister is doing is a smash and grab on our democracy in order to force through a no deal exit from the European Union. What is he so afraid of was . If . If mps do not stop this, it is no exaggeration, no hyperbole, this is the day that any semblance of uk parliamentary democracy absolutely dies. They are expected to quit tomorrow after tensions with johnson. Even though those close to say that the decision is not a direct result of today. Even the speaker, who was meant to be impartial let his fury be shown. He said he had no contact with the government but this represents a constitutional outrage. He went on to say that it is blindingly obvious that the purpose of this now would be to stop parliament debating brexit. That would be an offence against the democratic process and the rights of parliamentarians as the rights of parliamentarians as the peoples elected representatives. Are you ignoring parliament . Ignoring some questions, certainly. Have a new Prime Minister and he needs a new legislative programme. They say theyre all too aware that this is controversial and will not be surprised by the onslaught of scrutiny. Not exactly forward about making the case today. But the move was officially sealed with a coin by a trio of conservative counsellors who disturbed her majestys on event. Are you worried about the legal challenge . All entirely normal that they called the commons later. And those who backed brexit, back this to. He is entitled to seek a new queen speech, particularly as a new Prime Minister to set out his domestic agenda and i do not think theres a bit unusual about that. No can deny that this parliament is endlessly debating brexit, harvey talked about anything else. You know everybodys position, we know at the viewings stop by borisjohnson was the writings of the viewings stop by borisjohnson was writing something that history is the Prime Minister who did what it took to get brexit done. But the methods he chooses to done. But the methods he chooses to do that with that either make or break them. We can speak to our nick eardley Political Correspondent who is at westminster. Another huge day in this brexit saga by the end date is nearing. With the amount of time left in parliament, isa amount of time left in parliament, is a very difficult or impossible to stop no deal brexit . Is a very difficult or impossible to stop Nodeal Brexit . Difficult, but not impossible. The big question is whether the mps who are determined to stop borisjohnson taking the uk out of the eu without a deal, if thatis out of the eu without a deal, if that is what we end up, the question is whether they can pass legislation, quickly enough to prevent him from doing that. Ive spoken to several today who are confident that their strategy will work and will try to call an emergency debate as soon as mps come back on tuesday and then force a bill through before parliament is suspended and is soon potentially as the next monday. Really interesting in the order that the queen signed this afternoon. They said that parliament will break up between monday and thursday delete after next, so we do not know for sure just how long does mps will have, but theyre working hard to make sure they can get this through. The second question is whether they have the numbers. Yesterday there were questions over that because there we re questions over that because there were some conservative mps who were elected to be seen to be forcing the Prime Ministers hand when negotiation with europe was ongoing. Speaking to some of them, including the former chancellor, he thinks that the resolve of conservatives worry about no deal has hardened and there will be moving next week to try and do something that forces the Prime Ministers hand. And all is my next question, if legislation cannot work or there is not the time of the numbers, how many conservatives would back a no confidence vote . Numbers, how many conservatives would back a no confidence vote 7. The moment, next to none. Possibly a handful of the very most and that is the reason vita has been put on the back burner. Jeremy corbyn his plan and he called a general election, he knew quite frankly that it was not going to work. It has been tapped by those opposed to no deal on the back burner, as a back up option, the Nuclear Option and if he gets to the end of october and theres not been any movement. He might trade them. Do not think it is going to work at the moment, but i the numbers are there and more broadly, the argument that the government is going to continue to make of the next few daysis continue to make of the next few days is that this is normal. It is normalfor days is that this is normal. It is normal for the government, days is that this is normal. It is normalfor the government, when it comes down to introducing new legislative programmes, to send mps home, bring them back and start fresh. It is not normal is how theyre doing it for this long in theyre doing it for this long in the circumstances. This is all heading towards a huge, massive, pivotal vote in parliament over the next couple of weeks and if you think some of the tense moments he had seen a bus most of the next couple of years have been something, the big what is yet to come. Those who are opposed to no deal is do they want to allowJeremy Corbyn and even temporarily or do they want to allow no deal, if the choice comes down to that, do you know where the numbers of fall on thats is it possible to speculate . Numbers of fall on thats is it possible to speculate 7|i numbers of fall on thats is it possible to speculate . I do not think it is because they are just not entertaining at right now. Even the most vociferous opponents, the ones that have worked with the labour party for the past year to try and block in no deal brexit, at the moment they said they would do nothing that ends up putting Jeremy Corbyn in downing street. Added to the mix, some labour mps, even if it means no deal probably only a handful to a dozen of them at the very most, that means their numbers are against that as things stand. The question i suppose is further down the line, mid october, Boris Johnson is looking to the european summitand middle johnson is looking to the european summit and middle of october is the potential make or break point for whether he can get a new deal or not. If he does not get a new deal and says that said, we are out. You have not passed legislation, so im going to take a sigh without a deal, there would be a very serious question for those mps who so far have not entertained a vote of no confidence. With that change their mind . The answers possibly, but we just their mind . The answers possibly, but wejust do their mind . The answers possibly, but we just do not know enough yet whether that will work. That is my tactical, use of the conservative rebels is going on legislation next week and tonight, they remain confident that they can do it. But nothing is guaranteed. Lets speak to our scotland reporter lynsey bews who is at balmoral where the queen is in residence and where earlier she met with members of the privy council to approve the Prime Ministers request. Going up to that area, but in the need to make meantime, we have this word that ruth davis might resign. What do we know about that . Reports emerged that Ruth Davidson was considering resigning as the scottish conservative leader. It is mixed political and personal with an davidson returned earlier this year, having taken time off for maternity leave. But it is no secret that she does not support a no deal brexit and has previously clashed with borisjohnson. We are expecting a formal statement from Ruth Davidson so we formal statement from Ruth Davidson so we should find about more than. Issues stepping down as a member of the conservative party or simply as a conservative leader or is that still to be determined . A conservative leader or is that still to be determined . We do not have that information yet, it is suggested she would be stepping down as leader but that does not speak of what her seat will be in parliament, but what we do know is that Ruth Davidson has always spoken out against a no deal brexit and since borisjohnson took over as Prime Minister, she is made very clear that she would not support one. Not during the conservative leadership contest, she supported his rival and not borisjohnson at any point in that campaign and Ruth Davidson was pretty angry at the sacking of david as scottish secretary, she felt that her advice to keep them on had been ignored, david was a close political ally of Ruth Davidsons. Its a feeling that in no deal brexit could bea feeling that in no deal brexit could be a threat to the union, something that she campaigned strongly on, many agree with her, face said today that this may make independence com pletely that this may make independence completely inevitable. If Ruth Davidson does step down and there is an election, that is a big loss to the conservative Party National isnt that . Because she is credited with building up support in scotland. Yes, Ruth Davidson has been the leader of the scottish conservatives since 2011 and she has been credited widely with a bit of a revival for the partys fortunes here north of the border when she returned from maternity leave, she placed her focus on the 2021 elections and she was going for the first ministersjob elections and she was going for the first ministers job and her party was right behind her on that. If you go intoa was right behind her on that. If you go into a general election, many will be concerned about what happens to those tory seats in scotland but the party in scotland will also be looking at what impact this could be on the 2021 election north of the border. The queen has agreed to the governments decision to suspend Parliament Days after mps return to work and a matter of weeks before the brexit deadline. These are the key dates to look out for. Parliament will return on the 3rd of september and will be suspended a week later at some stage no earlier than the 9th of september and the leader to the 12th of september, thatis leader to the 12th of september, that is expected to make of a Boris Johnsons new administration to hold a queen speech laying out the future plans the 14th of october. Later that week, there will be a crunch and the Council Summit before brexit, which could provide the last chance for the Prime Minister to avoid a no deal brexit. If no agreement is reached and those opposed to no deal do not have time to pass any laws, they could stop the Prime Minister taking the uk out of the eu deal, brexit will still happen on the 31st of october. It all means that mps who were hoping to block a no deal brexit before halloween will now have very little time to do so in parliament. Our home editor mark easton looks at what Boris Johnsons decision to suspend parliament will mean and how it will work. Its a matter of time. By announcing a queens speech to set out its plans, the government makes it harder for parliament to stop the clock as the country heads towards brexit day on october the 31st with or without a deal. I met constitutional expert hannah whyte on parliament square, where else . With three questions. First, what is happening . What it means practically is that mps and peers will have significantly less time to talk about anything related to brexit or otherwise before the article 50 deadline is reached the end of october. A pause and her majesty the queen. The queens speech ceremony emphasises the tensions between her majestys government and an independent parliament. Slamming and banging of doors, a reminder of a sometimes fractious relationship. Although audacious, on this occasion, government ministers appear to have found a constitutionally legitimate way to curb the powers of mps and peers. So, how does it work . What were seeing now is a real showdown between parliament and government. What the government has done is quite clever, because it really constrains the Time Available to people in parliament who want to legislate to try to prevent no deal. If they dont get legislation through in the next couple of weeks, it will fall and they will have to try again in october, starting from scratch and getting a bill through the commons and the lords in the limited Time Available will be very difficult. With their options are narrowing, those who oppose a no deal brexit or even a brexit at all will be anxiously discussing tactics. One group of politicians has asked scotlands top civil court to grant an interim interdict to block the suspension of parliament but some believe they may already have missed their chance to delay or stop britains departure from the eu at halloween. So, question number three, can it be stopped . Broadly there are three options now. The first is to legislate. But as we discussed, that is really difficult in terms of the timing. The second is to try to bring the courts into it, but we are into uncharted territory to what view the courts would take of a challenge at this point. The third is to try a no confidence vote in the Prime Minister which could lead to an election but the thing to bear in mind is setting the date of the election is up to the Prime Minister and that could be after brexit has happened on the 31st of october. Both sides in this dispute claim the moral high ground, that their way is the truly democratic way, that history willjudge them well. But when the dust finally settles on these extraordinary political events, who, if anyone, will be honoured with a statue here at the epicentre of our democracy . Lets discuss this further with Catherine Barnard professor of law at Cambridge University whos in Plettenberg Bay in south africa. From bristol were joined by Gavin Phillipson professor of law at bristol university. Catherine, in terms of the number of days left, for mps in the house of commons, what chance do you think there is that they will pass a law theyll stopping no deal brexit . There is that they will pass a law theyll stopping no deal brexit7m is really tight. We do not know when between the ninth the 12th of september, it is possible to get a bill through very quickly, but remember it is the bill no deal brexit, but of course, that is not in ourgift brexit, but of course, that is not in our gift because under article 50, believe on the 31st of october and the eu would have to agree to it. So the bill would have to say that borisjohnson, the Prime Minister is required to ask for an extension that is the only thing you can do for the bill will actually said to revoke article 50 and it seems very unlikely at the moment. What about the second of those options that we saw and that piece in the idea of the Court Stepping in and again, how complex is that how could it work . Will be going into uncharted territories that will be challenging Parliament Brought in the courts, i do not know of you seen the release that her lawyers have watched taste of the challenge. Resulting in the Supreme Court, but this is a much more complex and difficult case, and i was a simple case ina difficult case, and i was a simple case in a way that was simply saying the government does not have the power under the Royal Prerogative to trigger article 50 but this leads to low and disputing that the government has the power to request this from the queen, the argument would be that power has been misused andl would be that power has been misused and i would take the courts into entire different format, so be interesting to see if that develops. How many courts of appeals of i go through . The aim would be an injunction before parliament will do this but you have been between the 12th. So the courts to act with remarkable speed. If neither of those options work, the opponents of no deal could try and pull a vote of no deal could try and pull a vote of no confidence, even if that was in the pretty big if, will Boris Johnson of the step down . He has 14 days and then the 14 days he can see if he can change peoples minds look to see if there will be an alternative government perhaps led byJeremy Corbyn or perhaps a general election want to be called for the crucial election is the timing of the general election is the Prime Minister borisjohnson who would propose to the crown as to the date of that election and the risk is with the vote of no confidence taking place until the last few days of october the general election to be on the 31st of october and the will of left the European Union by default. So even if that 14 day period an interim government is formed led byJeremy Corbyn and other senior parliamentary figures, can the end of the october date be delayed while a general election is called . It will only happen if there was an alternative government that looked as if it could command the confidence. If Boris Johnson lost a vote of confidence, then a new government could be formed and should be appointed by the queen and once it was appointed, it would be the government they could say immediately to brussels and request an extension to article 50. But that is only if it is appointed by the queen and it has to have the confidence of the commons, if not then there will be automatically triggered after 14 days, but the timing of that election is under the guidance of the Prime Minister and it can be scheduled to happen after we leave. And on the repeated statements by other people on all thatis statements by other people on all that is happening, this is perfectly normal but they have always tried in the autumn for session, the Research Shows that in the last 40 years, parliament has never been away longer than three weeks and it has been doing this for a week or less of the last three were on 65 days and three days so five weeks is unprecedented in the posterior period. Mib unprecedented, but we do have the written constitution it might be. Those who do not want a no deal brexit. Might be. Those who do not want a Nodeal Brexit. What has been clever about this and adopted by Boris Johnson and his advisers is that they picked the period of prorogation and they have not demos being talked about before and appeared for it which spanned the sist appeared for it which spanned the 31st of october, so borisjohnson is quite able to say that there will be time after the crucial European Council of the 17th of october for parliament to discuss these things. Also one other plan which has not been discussed much so far and that is will borisjohnson be able to pull a rabbit out of the hat and get significant change to the Withdrawal Agreement and the fact that parliament has been provoked into this and will be a new parliament means that the Withdrawal Agreement dull, but that was the bill that theresa may tried to get through on three occasions before at least in some form, butjohn said you could not keep bringing it back. But he will be able to bring it back because it will be a new session of parliament and so start with a clean slate. A very interesting point but thank you very much indeed for talking is through this complexity, more to come in the coming days. How has this all gone down and brussels. So how has this been received in brussels our europe editor katya adler is there for us this evening. What responses are you getting . The eu is officially responding and it sees the idea for and against it and asa sees the idea for and against it and as a domestic matter and so the European Commission or angle of merkel, they have not commented and it is good for democracies to listen and that is why it is good to patty that keep could to keep them open, but is making eu leaders set up, smell the coffee and realise that he is serious about pursuing a deal brexit if you cannot get a new agreement the eu and i would say they already believe youre serious about a no deal brexit and realisation had not made eu leaders panic or eu leaders send teams on the ground to think of a compromise in order to find a new agreement with the uk. We know the eu would rather avoid a no deal brexit, but the eu test the compromise with it is in their wider interests and then the irish border, the eu has to get rid of, for them, getting rid of it, if there is no workable alternative in place, that means exposing their whole Single Market and they think theyll leave them worse off than facing in the deal brexit. Remember theresa mays metra is no deal is better than a bad deal, the eu believes that for themselves as well. And on a low level, there is communication across the channel looking at possible alternatives. Certain eu leaders to located at the Prime Minister says it isa located at the Prime Minister says it is a workable alternative. So borisjohnson does it is a workable alternative. So Boris Johnson does not it is a workable alternative. So borisjohnson does not come up with a real alternative to the back backstop which is . When it comes to for example, the technical alternatives using modern technology, using trust trade systems and the eu says that is not enough to keep the border at free of checks and free of infrastructure. So they say that if you do not have this workable alternative, something thatis this workable alternative, something that is not workable right now, they would be exposing the Single Market, it would mean abandoning the member stated it would mean risking the Northern Ireland Peace Process as well as the eu losing face and that means something, notjust about losing face and the united kingdom, it means losing face and it comes to drying redlines, when looking at trade deals with other countries around the world. So why would they sign up to that . So theyre sticking to their line, yes we will get rid of the back backstop ba cksto p if backstop if you can come up with an operable solution and that is not on the table at the moment. Does give us a flavour of what is been going on in the past few hours in the mood amongst the protesters. It has been going on for several hours, they started gathering their parliament about 530 this afternoon and it is still going on now. The numberof and it is still going on now. The number of people have started moving away but as you can see behind me, we are on the corner of Parliament Near Westminster Bridge and the roads are closed and basically no one to move because protesters are one to move because protesters are on the road, some of them are sitting down and it looks like this could go on for some time and we have been following get over the past few hours, they moved from couege past few hours, they moved from College Green where they managed to push down the barriers and get to that area with the tv podcast is going on, but he was very good natured demonstrations, they moved up towards downing street and stayed there for a while and then they came back here to basically block Westminster Bridge and it looks like they may be here for some time to come, i have been speaking to some people have been taking part and this demonstration and they are hoping still that even in this last late period that they can still stop brexit. It has unleashed a lot of stuff that is not very nice and a lot of people, there are a lot of people and remainder now that relates to leaf campaign told them a lot of untruth and their problems will not be solved by any kind of brexit and certainly not a no deal brexit. So i think that this is the beginning of something, definitely. Maybe you could call it the beginning of the beginning. But it is very fortunate to meet that this is very fortunate to meet that this is happening today. And i hope it is for all of the other people who want something to happen that is going to stop this. It was a very lastminute call for this protest and as youre saying, another left Wing Campaign was talking about these protest taking place and so many people have turned up and going john spoke early at the protest saying that we will not let our democracy be overturned, and this is when we understand already, the further protests are being planned, possibly as early as this coming saturday and that will bea this coming saturday and that will be a pretty big one as well. Lets catch up with the weather across the uk. It was cooler for all of us today, but still in the mid 20s in the southeast and in between the rain, we have more rain heading in over the next three hours to clear away after midnight, clear skies following but the wind is picking up and blowing some cloud and Northern Ireland and western scotland, but a cooler night noted simply so, the southeast in between the rain. Weve got more rain though heading in here over the next three hours to clear away after midnight. Clear skies following to most areas, but the winds picking up, blowing some cloud into Northern Ireland and western scotland, but a cooler night. Noticeably so across southeastern areas after all the heat and humidity of recent nights. As we head into thursday, a sunny start for most of england and wales, it will tend to cloud over from the west, one or just make perhaps, but mostly showers coming in on that strengthening wind to Northern Ireland, and particularly into scotland, where its going to be 17 through the central belt. Still 24 or so in the southeast of england. Move things onto friday, weve got what or whether coming back into scotland, Northern Ireland, over the irish sea and into northwest england, and maybe a few showers coming into western parts of wales too. But its a south westerly winds, so get the sunshine, and where its dry, its going to be warm, particularly across hello this is bbc news with geeta guru murthy. The headlines. The queen approves the suspension of parliamentjust days after mps return to work in september which could deny mps the time to try to stop a no deal brexit. The Prime Minister insists that proruoging parliament would not prevent mps playing their role in the brexit process. But bringing forward a new legislative programme on crime and on hospitals, and making sure that we have the Education Funding that we have the Education Funding that we need and there will be ample time onto both sides of that crucial october the 17th summit, ample time, in parliament, for mps to debate. But the house of Commons Speaker is joined by senior mps, including Jeremy Corbyn, in saying that the move is a constitutional outrage. Suspending parliament is not acceptable its not on what the pm is doing is a sort of smash n grab on our democracy in order to force through a no deal exit from the eu whats he so afraid of . Ruth davidson is on the verge of resignation as the leader of the scottish conservatives. She is said tonight to be considering her position. Sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, heres joan. In the fast a few hours, they have been marked by new owners, saving them from liquidation and expulsion from the football league. The club had been given 14 days to prove they we re had been given 14 days to prove they were financially viable, or for a deal to be finalised, but it wasnt required, as Football Ventures limited were confirmed as buyers this evening. Well, joining us, is willjones, a fan and podcast host, thank you very much for speaking to us. I would thank you very much for speaking to us. Iwould imagine thank you very much for speaking to us. I would imagine you are incredibly relieved, especially after watching whats happened to bury who are in a similar situation and have been expelled. Absolutely. Its such a relief, and like i said, but bury, condolences to them. Its a real shame what happened to them, in the last 24 hours or so, we hope for the best for them, and if they can be revived, then we do hope so. I like you said, an amazing feeling for us, just hoping that we can rebuild from. Obviously, it was a last hour saving for the club. What do you know about the new owners, Football Ventures limited . Yeah, Football Ventures limited . Yeah, Football Ventures limited, they have been interested in taking on the club since the very beginning of the administration period. They seem loyal about getting their deal over the line. They seem fairly reliable, so we arejust the line. They seem fairly reliable, so we are just hoping that we can make that count, and they will be able to bring the glory days back to us. Exactly, because i would think that there is a great deal to be done, because you started the season with a 12 point deduction because of your financial situation. Youve lost your manager, phil parkinson, and a great deal of first team players. Almost lost you there. Got your back. How do the club and the staff rebuild now . Yeah, hopefully just in terms of getting a squad together, getting a manager, and hopefully bringing the club back to what it was, getting some good stuff, keeping theirjobs alive. I know that wasnt out initially, but yeah, just hopefully keeping the clu b yeah, just hopefully keeping the club going, and as it is, rebuild from there. Add to it as much as we can come and bring back the glory days, as i say. Thank you very much for taking the time to speak with us, and yes, hopefully there will be some glory days back for bolton soon. No such news for bury. Fans have been coming to terms of the fa ct have been coming to terms of the fact that after 125 years, the club will have to leave the English Football League after a deal to buy it bury fell through. There have been optimism for tickets being printed for saturdays game, fans cleaning the stadium and preparation, all ahead of a potential takeover from cnn supporting risk. Which would have secured the club because my future. At the sporting Analytics Company pulled out of the 11th hour due to insurmountable challenges. In scotland, rangers say they will not request tickets for their next european away match, after being charged with racist behaviour for a second time in a week by you a file, the charge relates to them singing during the euro tie last thursday. The club had already been forced to close off a section for the second leg, after a first charge of racism, following their match against st. Josephs injuly. Following their match against st. Josephs in july. In following their match against st. Josephs injuly. In a statement, the rangers said there was no kind of place for that kind of behaviour there or anywhere else. Australian batsmen, steve smith, says he looks forward to facing dropper archer again when the ashes resumes next week. The former australian captain has been cleared to play in the tour match against derbyshire, after suffering from a concussion from the first inning, when he was hit by an archer bouncer. The ashes is currently tied at one all after england won that dramatic test at headingley, which he missed. Just in time to update you on some live sport going on this evening. Seven games in the fl cup in the second round, including an all premier league tie between leicester and newcastle, at half time 1 02 leicester at the moment, and also at half time, lincoln city and everton. Also day three of the us open. Dan evans and johann oconto were in new york. You can keep up to date with tennis and the football on the bbc sport website. I will have more for you in sports day at half past ten. Lovely jane, thanks very much. More now on our top story. The queen has approved the Prime Ministers request to suspend Parliament Days after mps return to work and a matter of weeks before the brexit deadline. It comes just days after downing street told the bbc that reports suggesting that borisjohnson was considering such a move to stop mps debating brexit were false. On monday at the g7 summit in biarriz, the Prime Minister was asked by itv news Political Editor Robert Peston to rule out suspending parliament in an effort to force through a no deal brexit. He avoided answering specifically question and instead sad it was the job of all mps to deliver brexit. Lets have a listen. Mps are gathering in westminster, all parties, to issue a declaration calling on you not to use the device of suspending parliament to force through an ordeal brexit. 0k, through an ordeal brexit. Ok, thanks, thanks robin, ithink through an ordeal brexit. Ok, thanks, thanks robin, i think we are really circling over the back sort of ground here. I didnt hear the president say exactly that he thought it would be an ordeal brexit. I think what i heard him say is that the eu are tough negotiators, and thats true, but so are the americans, and certainly the australians, everyone is a tough negotiator. You are a pretty tough negotiator, i expect. Negotiator. You are a pretty tough negotiator, iexpect. Look, but that doesnt mean we wont do a deal. And we are working very hard to do that. It will be, it will be difficult, there is a substantial disagreement, but myjob is to make our case, and you know what our case is. The backstop is anti democratic, it keeps the uk locked in the eus customs arrangements. It keeps us locked in the legal order of the eu, without an ability to influence those things. Its got to come out, its got to change. Ive made that point very, very clearly to our friends. I think that point has now landed. So lets see where we get. And i hope that friends and colleagues in parliament will be supportive of our efforts to get this thing done, to get rid of the old Withdrawal Agreements, and do a much, much better deal. Thats what we need to do. Boris johnson theyre speaking in the last few days. Lets talk more on this now. Im joined by dawn foster and Teaching Fellow in politics at Kings College london, nigel fletcher. Thanks paul. Don, this is rather clever news by borisjohnson, because hes outsmarted his opponents . I think its smart and bold. Whether or not it will work remains to be seen, so obviously in the last few days, let alone weeks, we have seen that opposition parties have begun to Work Together to look at blocking an ordeal brexit. Boris johnson realises that if he can Prorogue Parliament and extend the three week layover that is normally scheduled for clinical conferences to bea scheduled for clinical conferences to be a five week layover, that the rebel mps in his party have less room, and much less time to think about rebelling against any possible deal. So its a very bold move, but it remains to be seen whether or not they will actually be a fall in line and get behind him, or whether they will continue to rebel. Nigel, your academic, but also a member of the conservative party, a tory counsellor. Do you think this is really, you know, a huge can significant move . 49 of leaders dont think this is a good idea. They dont think its acceptable. I think some of the headlines make it appear more dramatic than it is. I think if you see headlines that say borisjohnson has i think if you see headlines that say Boris Johnson has asked the queen to suspend parliament, it sounds hugely dramatic. What he think most people dont realise is that this is a common procedure, it happens every year. But not for link this length of time, and not at such a crucial time in our nations history. Thats politically controversial. The thing thats being said by Jeremy Corbyn and others, this is a constitutional outrage. I think we have to be careful about getting too carried away. I think the fear that all people have was that this was going to be used as a device to stop Parliament Sitting at all. As we got towards brexit. If we woo parliament being probed over the 31st of october, and then couldnt sit up to that point, that would have been a very serious issue. We are not seeing that. What we are seeing is parliament being probed over a period in which it will not be sitting anyway, for a large part, and then coming back with a clean speech on the 14th of october. And that in of itself is quite dangerous for borisjohnson, because effectively, the speech laying out the session ahead is an opportunity for Opposition Mps if they are able to master the numbers, to vote on the programme. So in a way, he is creating a situation where he cant have a vote of no confidence in himself, and parliament has those couple of weeks before the 31st of october in order to, if it wants to to try and pass motions, to try and avoid an ordeal brexit. Sol to try and pass motions, to try and avoid an ordeal brexit. So i think we have to be careful about saying this is an extraordinary procedure. In normal circumstances, the end of the session would happen every year, the session would happen every year, the session would happen every year, the session has lasted over two years. We are overdue for a clean speech. In terms of the political impact though on borisjohnson that shows that a majority are against it. So if you are heading for a general election, will the conservative suffer potentially, also, i mean if Ruth Davidson does step down, shes delivered many seats for the conservatives nationally. Has borisjohnson perhaps it was a clever constitutional move, but politically, could it backfire . Yes. I think its been a big gamble, and boris really thought about it quite deeply, spoke to his advisers about it. But it could backfire massively. We know that in 2017, theresa may thought that if she threw her lot m, thought that if she threw her lot in, she could get an increased conservative majority. Borisjohnson clearly thought that if he put the thumbscrews on conservative mps, they would get behind any deal he got through europe, and he would get through to october the 31st, get out with the deal. But if we then go through a general election, we may find that the public actually feel very unhappy about that. It could blow up in his face entirely. So he has made a big gamble, and it still couldnt massively backfire, given the fact that Ruth Davidson, one of the fact that Ruth Davidson, one of the more popular conservatives is thinking about quitting at the moment, and she will be the only one. Nigel, if it does come down to a vote of no confidence, and conservative mps feel that actually this is a cavalier, slightly bullying government thats taking big risks, you know, that you could see it moderate to conservative thinking actually they are not going to support this. That was always a possibility, but until we reach that point, we have to accept that the government has the right to govern, and there is always the option for mps, the leader of opposition to table a vote of no confidence. What we are not quite clear about, this is where the constitutional situation becomes a bit murky, is what happens if that vote is passed . Since the parliament act, we have not had a successful vote of no confidence. And the legislation is completely silent on what actually happens then. Thats why we have the debate over the last month or so about whetherJeremy Corbyn would be called, or whether there would be a general election. Thats the great unknown, i think. But then its up to mps, if they are able to muster those numbers, i think at the moment, while there are conservatives who are unhappy about the situation, there is even labour mps who are even more unhappy about Jeremy Corbyn. Sol mps who are even more unhappy about Jeremy Corbyn. So i think until we reached the point that there is a vote of no confidence, the government is office, and under our constitution, the queen is obliged under normal circumstances to accept the vice of her ministers, and thats what we saw today. Do you think it will come down politically toa think it will come down politically to a choice for many labour mps who dont wantJeremy Corbyn, and conservatives who dont want no deal, but they also dont want Jeremy Corbyn, to choose between an ordeal brexit and a Jeremy Corbyn led government, even if its an interim government to. Led government, even if its an interim government tolj led government, even if its an interim government to. I think that may well be the case, and i think that Boris Johnson may well be the case, and i think that borisjohnson has made the wrong decision, because i think a lot of labour mps will actually, evenif lot of labour mps will actually, even if they dont like him, much rather see him in a caretaker position, or full blown position than they would see borisjohnson in an ordeal brexit. And in terms of the timing of an election. Its a fair point, isnt it, that parliament is not being suspended over the end of october. Which was sort of talked about, but we could still end up with this Election Campaign over that period. Yes, i think that almost everybody i have spoken to in service and political positions around westminster, thinks that we are still on gearing up for a general election, probably not until after october the 31st, but they still think that most of this is because borisjohnson think that most of this is because Boris Johnson expected think that most of this is because borisjohnson expected to be a general election, and he will be gearing up to essentially say that the conservatives are the party of the conservatives are the party of the people, and labour and the opposition parties are the parties of the westminster elites. It remains to be seen by the public by that. The public seems very unhappy about this. A lot of the public voted to remain, a lot of the public voted to remain, a lot of the public voted leave, but you know, what is extreme is a lot of very extreme brexiters, so it could still explode. Nigel, of course, he has unveiled his list of candidates. How worried should conservatives be if they have to go to the polls before building brexit . I think that something which they are very keen to avoid. I would imagine. Something which they are very keen to avoid. Iwould imagine. And its something which has been said repeatedly, and we heard that from theresa may, no early election. I think its difficult to see that without brexit being delivered, that brexit would not stand. So theres got to be a huge risk for the conservative party before brexit is delivered. So in that sense, doesnt seem to make a lot of sense to try and prorogue an election. I think the point about a potential for a general election, if when parliament returns, there is a vote of no confidence, and an election is triggered, its probably possible that we could that prorogation and the election over by the 31st of october, but i would imagine that the government are keen to avoid that. 0k, the government are keen to avoid that. Ok, nigel fletcher, dawn foster, thank you very much. Earlier we heard from chris curtis, Political Research manager at polling company, yougov. He told me more about those results. He explained how respondents from both the left and right of centre responded when asked what they thought of the Prime Minister proroguing parliament. He said that the results were surprising. You like they are quite staggering, 47 say they dont think about Boris Johnsons decision staggering, 47 say they dont think about borisjohnsons decision this morning was acceptable. Compared to around half that number who say it was. And it cannot you just tell us what the question was, because people might say ok, how was this worded . Wasnt fair . Well its quite complicated, as you know, we have quite a team of people who try their hardest to make sure the wording on this is as fair as we can possibly get it. I dont know the exact wording of the top of my head. Basically, we were asking the public whether they thought was acceptable or not acceptable to close down parliament to pause for a queens speech and the situation. To stop, i think ive got it here in front of me. You have broken down the numbers in terms of labour versus conservatives and remain versus leave voters. Yes, this is where it gets particularly interesting. So on the remainder side, there is overwhelming opposition, Boris Johnson says that three quarters of remain voters dont think that the decision this morning was acceptable. On the leave i come about half of leave voters also say it was acceptable, unacceptable. There was a minority who thinks that this decision, regardless of whether they like the direction that Boris Johnsons heading on brexit, they dont think this decision was crickets. So you add together the vast majority of remain voters and of the small minority of leave voters, who dont think this decision was acceptable, and thats why we are seeing that headline result that i mentioned earlier. And what could this mean, if there is an election, as many people are predicting. I dont think this result, the decision thats been made today, will have a particularly large impact on the general election, which i also suspect will happen in october. Borisjohnsons strategy is clear. He wants to unite leave voters, and hes up against a divided remain vote now. We voters are far more sympathetic to this position, as i mentioned a minute ago, but also the key thing, the sword that borisjohnson lives or dies by is can he deliver brexit by october the 31st, and there has been nothing that happened today that is going to change the publics mind on that. You are saying that you think there could be an election before there could be an election before the end of october or november, as many people are saying . Well lets just say this. I do public opinion, andl just say this. I do public opinion, and i obviously, the busiest time of my life is during an Election Campaign, and im not allowed to book a holiday for the next month and a half. Chris curtis they are from the polling organisation. Of course today has sparked a lot of reaction, including from the businesswoman and campaigner, gina miller. She has made an urgent judicial review application to the courts to see whether that decision by borisjohnson to Prorogue Parliament undermines parliamentary sovereignty. Our legal boris on clive joins sovereignty. Our legal boris on clivejoins me sovereignty. Our legal boris on clive joins me now. Sovereignty. Our legal boris on clivejoins me now. Clive you have spoken to her and interviewed her. Talk us through what she is doing. Of course gina miller is the woman who in 2016, she gotjudgement in 2017, took the government all the way to the Supreme Court, also challenging the government on that occasion on use of prerogative powers. A lot of people said she wouldnt win that one, and she did win it. She forced the government to give parliament a vote on triggering article 50, the process by which the uk leaves the eu. Shes launched a legal challenge today, she joins a challenge thats taking place in the scottish courts, they are both seeking the same thing, which is an urgent injunction to prevent the probing of parliament. Now i spoke to gina miller earlier today, and she was pretty feisty. I think it is unbelievable, actually, that a Prime Minister who has put himself up by saying that he wants to restore confidence in our country, in our parliament, and in the united kingdom, would act in a manner that actually dense confidence in the way we operate as a constitution, and as a legal entity. I find a constitution, and as a legal entity. Ifind it a constitution, and as a legal entity. I find it extraordinary that they would go to such unscrupulous lengths to use the prorogation and power to his prerogative power in this manner. What borisjohnson is doing is he is hijacking the queens prerogative power and using it for, if you like, unscrupulous means. And i think that is what is so shocking about this. Is that its a very cowardly way of using these powers. And if you like, constitutional convention. You know, our unwritten constitution is a bit like a gentleman is agreement. And you have to say, its not being used in that manner. Well look, time is incredibly short for this legal challenge. The courts can move very quickly, and what we could see is both the legal challenge thats taking place in scotland, being supported by 75 parliamentarian seeking effectively the same goal. We could see both of those being rolled up, and ending up at the uk Supreme Court. Gina miller has to go to the high court first, it could then leap to court of appeal, go to the Supreme Court, the courts would have to act like lightning, but there has never been a bigger issue for them to act quickly on. Now, when he spoke to gina miller, i put to her the view that some people have of her, which is that here is gina miller, once again, wrapping herself in the flag of parliamentary sovereignty, when real really what she wants to do is simply stop brexit. I dont think anyone can argue that it is not right that parliament has its place. If parliament decides that they want to back no deal, but bring in legislation that will make or soften that blow, such as finance bills, other legislation, then they must have the right to do that. At the fact is, a Prime Minister is not above the law, and its not about parliament. That must be that something everyone defends. Can you give us a sense of how likely she is to win, and secondly, who decides on the courts timetable . Can the courts come under political pressure, for example, to not get this through in time . No. The courts will bend over backwards to make sure that they do deal with it in time. Thats what they always do. What are her chances . Well, a lot of people said she wouldnt win the first time around. Back in 20162017, a lot of first time around. Back in 2016 2017, a lot of people were wrong about that. What she is challenging really, if she can persuade a court that the intention behind todays announcement was really to frustrate the foundations of our parliamentary sovereignty, in other words, to not give mps enough time to consider, and to scrutinise all the options available to them in relation to brexit, if she can do that, then she can succeed. Shes a brave person, she clearly, she has a crack legal team, the same team she used to go to the Supreme Court last time around. Shes very competent. Clive, thanks very much indeed. Lets have a quick look now at the weather with darren batt. Hello there. No sign of temperatures returning to the low 30s over the next few days. Weve had much more cloud and some rain around today, for example. But where we did get the sunshine, temperatures rose to around about the mid 20s, and thats going to be a figure that we will see again, i think southeastern parts of the uk, always going to be wetter further north and west. Weve still got some rain though to clear away from east anglia and the southeast of england, as we head towards midnight. That will eventually move away, and we will get clearer skies following for most areas. As the breeze picks up though, we are blowing more cloud to Northern Ireland and western scotland, but a cooler night. Noticeably so towards the southeast, after its been so warm and muggy over the past few nights. So a more comfortable start for thursday. A cooler start, a sunny start for much of england and wales, it will tend to cloud over more, we will see one or two showers out towards the west, but with a stronger wind, it will push in more showers towards Northern Ireland, and particularly into scotland, perhaps a longer spell of rain in the northwest, where it will be quite windy. Temperatures 17 degrees through the central belt of scotland, to a high of 24 around london. Windy or wetter weather towards the northwest of the uk, weve got that area of low pressure, and that weather fronts, which is going to be hanging around, follow it all the way back into the atlantic. Its going to have waves and ripples on it, enhancing the rainfall. And essentially, weve got this Conveyor Belt of cloud and rain affecting Northern Ireland, much of scotland throughout friday. Over the irish see, into northwest england, may be a few showers into wales too. For the midlands, towards the southeast, with south westerly winds, its actually going to be quite warm, especially when the sun comes out. But further north, we will have cloud and rain. Which will continue overnight, and into saturday. Could be as much as four inches of rain over the hills of dumfries and galloway. That rain is still around on saturday, it does clear away from Northern Ireland. The rain band pivots its way into wales, western england, still dry for eastern england, and those temperatures still into the mid 20s. Much cooler though as you head for the north and west, and thats a sign of what is to come, really. That band of rain is on that weather front there, as it moves eastwards, the rain becomes lighter and more patchy. But it opens the door to her northwesterly wind, and that will bring in some much cooler and fresher air, and we will notice it everywhere, really, i think, on sunday. A lot of showers to come to the northern half of the uk, a few showers coming into southern parts of england and wales, where temperatures are going to be 19 20 degrees. But further north, only 14 15 for glascow, and also for belfast. Hello, im nuala mcgovern, this is outside source. In a Dramatic Development britains Prime Minister is to suspend parliament as the brexit deadline draws near. Mps will not sit at westminster for nearly five weeks, severely limiting their chance of blocking a no deal brexit. Borisjohnson insists, that still gives them time, to have their say before britain leaves the eu. There will be ample time on both sides of that crucial october the 17th summit, ample time in parliament for mps to debate the eu, debate brexit, and all the other issues. But theres been strong opposition