Yahoo News Labour MPs turn up at Commons to protest against Boris Johnson's suspension of Parliament
Labour MPs are turning up to the House of Commons to protest against Boris Johnson’s suspension of Parliament until October 14.
Several politicians tweeted pictures of themselves inside an empty chamber on Wednesday as opposition leaders continued their furious demands for the immediate recall of MPs to Westminster.
It comes as Mr Johnson’s suspension of Parliament was ruled unlawful by Scotland’s highest civil court.
Kevin Brennan, Welsh Labour MP for Cardiff West, posted a selfie on Twitter inside the chamber and accused the Prime Minister of illegally proroguing Parliament.
11.30 Wednesday - it should be #pmqs but Parliament illegally prorogued - I’ve come to the chamber but no sign of the Prime Minister pic.twitter.com/gl118cs7YQ
— Kevin Brennan MP (@KevinBrennanMP) September 11, 2019
Labour’s Diana Johnson said: “I am heading back to Westminster now. Look at these empty benches when we should be sitting. Parliament should be recalled immediately and let’s get on with the business of sorting out this country’s future.”
She later shared a photo of herself in a deserted chamber, as did her colleague Jonathan Reynolds.
Well I have turned up for work.... #RecallParliamentNow pic.twitter.com/yGEVChO5yt
— Diana Johnson (@DianaJohnsonMP) September 11, 2019
Reporting for duty pic.twitter.com/2YN6oa46BI
— Jonathan Reynolds (@jreynoldsMP) September 11, 2019
Luke Pollard, shadow fisheries minister, also shared a selfie in an empty House of Commons, calling it a “quiet statement about our democracy”.
Quietly and peacefully I have gone back to sit in my usual spot in the House of Commons. No shouting or scuffles - just a quiet statement about our democracy. Boris Johnson’s prorogation of Parliament is unlawful. MPs should be here debating the national crisis. #recallparliament pic.twitter.com/nEFMIad5vr
— Luke Pollard MP (@LukePollard) September 11, 2019
A cross-party group of MPs also gathered outside the House of Commons to demand that MPs are recalled.
On Wednesday the Court of Session in Edinburgh found that Boris Johnson’s suspension of Parliament was illegal and that MPs had been stopped from sitting for the “improper purpose of stymying Parliament”.
The ruling said advice given to the Queen that led to the five-week prorogation was therefore “unlawful and is thus null and of no effect”.
The Government immediately announced it was lodging an appeal against the ruling with the Supreme Court, with a hearing set for Tuesday.
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Opposition MPs said the prorogation should be set aside without delay so ministers could be held to account for their Brexit plans in the Commons.
Downing Street insisted the five-week prorogation was so the new Government could set out its legislative programme in a Queen’s Speech on October 14.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman rejected claims that the true purpose was to prevent MPs thwarting his pledge to take Britain out of the EU by October 31, with or without a deal with Brussels.
