Boris Johnson asks queen to suspend Parliament ahead of Brexit deadline

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Wednesday that he wanted to shut down Parliament for several weeks ahead of Britain’s upcoming departure from the European Union, an unusual maneuver that would rob his opponents of time to thwart a no-deal Brexit.

The announcement prompted howls of outrage from many lawmakers, who said that they were being deprived of their democratic voice on Britain’s most momentous decision in generations. It increased the chances that the country would sail out of the European Union at the end of October with no transition deal to buffer the way, a move economists say could cause major economic turmoil.

Johnson told reporters that he had asked Queen Elizabeth II, who is currently on holiday at her Scottish estate of Balmoral, to give her customary speech outlining the country’s legislative agenda in mid-October, effectively suspending the body between Sept. 11 and Oct. 14.

Britain is expected to leave the European Union on Oct. 31.

Johnson denied claims that Brexit was the reason behind the new timetable, telling reporters that he wanted a new session of Parliament so he could set out the government’s “very exciting agenda.”

He added that there would be “ample time” for Parliament to debate Brexit.

The move to suspend — or prorogue — Parliament at this crucial time in the Brexit process sparked anger from many lawmakers, including from some within the governing Conservative Party.

A petition launched on the British Parliament website calling for the government not to suspend Parliament quickly exceeded 100,000 signatures, the number needed for it to be considered for a debate in Parliament. The latest tally was 300,000.