Nicola Sturgeon says it will be a ‘dark’ day for democracy if Government plans to suspend parliament go ahead

Nicola Sturgeon has hit out at Boris Johnson after reports that The Queen will be asked to suspend Parliament just days after MPs return to work.

The First Minister said it would be a “dark” day for democracy if the plans for the extended suspension, reported by the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, come to fruition.

Johnson is thought to be set to ask for a Queen’s Speech to be held on October 14, meaning less time for MPs to pass any laws to stop the UK leaving the EU with no deal ahead of the October 31 Brexit deadline.

The plans are set to be confirmed by the Privy Council at Balmoral today, the BBC reported.

Ms Sturgeon tweeted: “So it seems that Boris Johnson may actually be about to shut down Parliament to force through a no deal Brexit.

“Unless MPs come together to stop him next week, today will go down in history as a dark one indeed for UK democracy.”

So it seems that Boris Johnson may actually be about to shut down Parliament to force through a no deal Brexit. Unless MPs come together to stop him next week, today will go down in history as a dark one indeed for UK democracy. https://t.co/68lFnEgiyr

— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) August 28, 2019

Conservative Party chairman James Cleverly, however, tweeted: “Or to put it another way: Government to hold a Queen’s Speech, just as all new Governments do.”

Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson tweeted: “We do not have a ‘new government’. This action is an utterly scandalous affront to our democracy. We cannot let this happen.”

Green MP Caroline Lucas said on Twitter: “Wasn’t this meant to be about ‘taking back control’?

“The act of a cowardly Prime Minister who knows his reckless No Deal Brexit will never gain the support of MPs. A constitutional outrage which Parliament and the people will oppose.”

Big fearty. pic.twitter.com/R9GMdTI22W

— Mhairi Black MP ?️‍? (@MhairiBlack) August 28, 2019

Liberal Democrats Brexit spokesman Tom Brake tweeted: “If BBC News are correct @BorisJohnson’s just thrown down the gauntlet to Parliamentary democracy.

“The mother of all Parliaments will not allow him to shut the #PeoplesParliament out of the biggest decision facing our country.

“His declaration of war will be met with an iron fist.”