VIDEO: Boris Johnson insists move to suspend parliament isn't down to Brexit

Boris Johnson has said that it is “completely untrue” he will be holding a Queen’s Speech on October 14 because of Brexit.

The Prime Minister insisted that he had a new government with an “exciting agenda” that requires new legislation.

Speaking to broadcast media he said: “As I said on the steps of Downing Street, we’re not going to wait until 31 October before getting on with our plans to take this country forward.

“This is a new government with a very exciting agenda … We have to be bringing forward new and important bills. That’s why we are going to have a Queen’s speech and we are going to do it on 14 October.”

“We're not going to wait until October 31 before getting on with our plans"

Boris Johnson says the move to suspend Parliament will still provide “ample time… for MPs to debate the EU, to debate #Brexit and all the other issues”https://t.co/rchrc3fO2Y pic.twitter.com/puIiUHAz1U

— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) August 28, 2019

When asked if he was planning for a general election, Mr Johnson said: “No, all you should take from this is that we are doing exactly what I said on the steps of Downing Street, which is we must get on now with our legislative domestic agenda.”

A letter written by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to MPs outlining his Government’s plans

Opposition parties have rallied against the move to suspend parliament.

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

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted that, unless MPs work together to stop Johnson, today could go down as “a dark one indeed for UK democracy”.

And Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson said: “By suspending Parliament to force through a No Deal, Boris Johnson and the Government would remove the voice of the people. It is a dangerous and unacceptable course of action which the Lib Dems will strongly oppose.”