A PROTEST against Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s suspension of parliament has been planned this evening outside Coventry City Council House.
The demonstration is set to go ahead today at 5.30pm and has been organised by campaign group People’s Vote Coventry – in partnership with some of the city’s political parties.
It comes after Mr Johnson received approval from the Queen to controversially prorogue Parliament for nearly five weeks in the run up to the UK leaving the European Union by the October 31 deadline.
The newly elected Conservative PM has pledged to leave the EU without a deal by that date, if necessary – but claims his first priority is to secure a withdrawal agreement with Brussels.
The manoeuvre comes days after opposition parties formed a consensus to prevent a no-deal scenario at all costs.
The measure has prompted fury and critics have claimed it is designed to prevent any plan to stop no-deal from getting through Parliament.
Chair of Coventry Liberal Democrats Stephen Richmond said: “Shutting down Parliament to avoid difficult questions is the move of a tinpot dictator.
“Boris is losing the argument on a no deal Brexit and losing the plot if he thinks locking MPs out of Westminster is the right way to act.
“No one who supported leaving the EU was voting for a constitutional crisis or a catastrophic no deal Brexit.
“People in Coventry and across the UK must have the final say on Brexit.”
Supporters of Brexit and Mr Johnson have pointed out that it is only failing to deliver Brexit – voted for by a majority of the UK public in a June 2016 referendum – that is antidemocratic and unconstitutional.
The extra period after the usual recess, when parliament will be suspended, is required for the new PM to formulate his legislative programme and the Queen’s Speech, he says.
