A significant constitutional crisis is looming in the United Kingdom, largely due to Prime Minister Boris Johnson's decision to request Queen Elizabeth II to suspend Parliament until October 14th. This move has not only stirred opposition from MPs who are strongly against a no-deal Brexit but also put both the Parliament and monarchy, key institutions of British democracy, under pressure.
The opposition argues that this suspension could severely limit Parliament's ability to prevent a no-deal Brexit if it were to extend the recess close to the Brexit deadline on October 31st. Johnson justifies the extended recess as a necessity to break the long-standing parliamentary session, and claims that a meeting on October 14th would not hinder a debate on the results of the upcoming EU summit. However, the opposition highlights the difficulties in passing legislation that opposes a no-deal scenario, especially considering the tight timeline for the summit.
Moreover, Johnson's strategy is seen as a bid to either force the EU to back down or prepare for early elections to strengthen his slim parliamentary majority. This risky approach increases the chances of unforeseen outcomes. The situation is further complicated by the theoretical implications of this political maneuver, which involve a tug-of-war between the executive and legislative powers, and the judiciary.
This constitutional standoff is not only a matter of immediate political urgency but also raises broader questions about who controls the UK government today and how effective the Westminster Parliament will be in the final stages of Brexit. It also questions whether the UK is solely at the mercy of those advocating a specific interpretation of an unconventional referendum with a narrow outcome that never directly asked the British people to face the consequences of leaving the European Union.
