Tuesday 10 September 2019 8:27 am

Speaker John Bercow blocked from leaving chair as MPs protest Boris parliament prorogue

Pro-Brexit and anti-Brexit campaigners with banners and EU flags are seen outside the Houses of Parliament in London on September 5, 2019. – Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday insisted Britain must leave the European Union on October 31, despite a defeat of his hardline strategy at the hands of MPs. (Photo by Tolga AKMEN / AFP) (Photo credit should read TOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images)

MPs protested Boris Johnson’s act to prorogue parliament last night by brandishing signs and stopping speaker John Bercow from leaving his chair.

The Prime Minister last night suspended parliament for five weeks until 14 October, just two weeks beyond the UK’s scheduled departure date of 31 October.

Parliamentarians shouted “No!” and held up placards reading “Silenced” in the early hours of this morning as the suspension took place.

Parliament has now prorogued (been suspended) and the House of Commons will next sit for the State Opening of Parliament on 14 October 2019.
— UK House of Commons (@HouseofCommons) September 10, 2019

One MP actually attempted to block Bercow from leaving his seat to lead the prorogation ceremony in the House of Lords as politicians engaged in a scuffle near the speaker’s chair.

Bercow won applause as he spoke out against the suspension, despite the speaker’s neutral role.

“This is not a standard or normal prorogation,” he said.

“It’s one of the longest for decades and it represents an act of executive fiat.”

Parliament will not sit again until 14 October (Getty Images)

Meanwhile Labour MPs booed sitting government ministers, chanting “shame on you” at Prime Minister Johnson’s cabinet.

Johnson has insisted the suspension is in order to push his domestic agenda and not to cut debate time ahead of the Brexit deadline.

But critics have said MPs will have less time to scrutinise his Brexit plans.

It means MPs have only sat for four days after a six-week summer break.

However, a bill forcing Johnson to request a three-month delay to Brexit if no deal is in place gained royal assent yesterday.

So for the next 5 weeks parliament will be silenced

This is a democratic outrage – but even if MPs are shut out of the House of Commons, we’ll continue to do everything possible to hold this out of control Executive to account pic.twitter.com/zDxK87y0XU
— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) September 10, 2019

The bill, put forward by Labour’s Hilary Benn and Tory Alastair Burt, is designed to avoid a no-deal Brexit by delaying the UK’s departure until 31 January.

Yesterday Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn railed against parliament’s suspension, calling it “disgraceful” and accusing Johnson of seeking to avoid questioning.

Johnson’s government has maintained that suspending parliament is usual practice ahead of a Queen’s Speech.

That will take place on 14 October when parliament returns.

Separately anti-Brexiter and Sir John Major are appealing against a legal case they lost against the suspension.

Main image credit: Getty