MPs pledge to form alternative parliament in case of prorogation

[brooklynite]

Source: The Guardian

Boris Johnson has been described as a threat to the “very nature” of British democracy at a cross-party meeting where MPs agreed to form an alternative parliament in the event of the prime minister shutting down the existing one to make a no-deal Brexit happen.

In a symbolic gathering at Church House in Westminster, where MPs met during the second world war, Labour’s John McDonnell took to the stage alongside the former Conservative MP Anna Soubry as well as the Liberal Democrat leader, Jo Swinson, and Caroline Lucas of the Green party.

They signed the Church House declaration, which said shutting down parliament would be “an undemocratic outrage at such a crucial moment for our country, and a historic constitutional crisis”.

The pronouncement added: “Any attempt to prevent parliament [from] sitting, to force through a no-deal Brexit, will be met by strong and widespread democratic resistance.”

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/aug/27/mps-pledge-form-alternative-parliament-prorogation-church-house-declaration-brexit

[empedocles]

1. Great to see the preparations. Will be noticed throughout DC

[DavidDvorkin]

2. It's great symbolism, but I couldn't tell from the article if it will have any real-world effect.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. I'm surely no British historian

but when was the last time the Parliament was prorogued? Oliver Cromwell?

[lonely bird]

4. Previously only the Queen could dissolve parliament

Now it takes 2/3 of the House of Commons.

Boris Johnson is an idiot.