Emergency protests took place across Brighton yesterday evening in response to Boris Johnson’s plan to suspend parliament ahead of the Brexit deadline date.
Featured Image: © Brighton and Hove for EU
The government’s request for a 5-week prorogation has been approved by the Queen. Parliament will be prorogued in the week beginning 9 September until 14 October.
This means the time MPs have to pass laws to stop a no-deal Brexit on October 31st would be cut.
Yesterday’s protest was organised by local resident Michael James Parker, who encouraged Brighton to join him in Bartholomew Square to “stand up for democracy.” Parker wrote:
Boris Johnson is trying to shut down our democracy to deliver his Brexit agenda. In Brighton and Hove we need to stand up and be counted.
Let’s do it Brighton style. Bring flags, music and big hearts bursting with all our emotions, including our joy at being part of a community that will not be shut down.
About 40 protestors turned up for the 5.30pm start, with numbers quickly rising. Western Road had to come to a standstill as protestors stopped traffic.
Lloyd Russell-Moyle, Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown, also attended the impromptu protest last night. The MP delivered an improvised speech in Bartholomew Square.
Since the protest, Parker and Defend Democracy have organised a follow-up event to take place this Saturday. An emergency protest will be held at the Level to demonstrate against a prorogued Parliament. More details about the event can be found here.
Caroline Lucas MP wrote in to openDemocracy today, speaking out against the Prime Minister’s decision. She wrote:
Boris Johnson has always claimed he’s a parliamentarian. His actions yesterday show that claim can be added to the long list of lies we’ve grown used to hearing from him.
His decision to prorogue Parliament isn’t just a cynical political move to force through a no deal Brexit, regardless of the disastrous consequences it will have for our country. It is a deeply unconstitutional move.
Johnson knows he cannot force his no deal Brexit through the House of Commons so he has decided to suspend it instead. Shutting down Parliament in this way, he believes will give him free rein to carry on with his Brexit plans.
Lucas also took to Twitter to encourage members of the public to sign the “Do not prorogue Parliament” campaign. The campaign has already received over 1,400,000 signatures, with numbers rising quickly. The campaign is attracting about 1,000 signatures per minute.
