Proroguing Parliament meaning: What does it mean as Commons suspended?

Parliament will begin a five week break later today, after a hellish week for Prime Minister Boris Johnson during which he lost his Commons majority. In a bid to prevent a no deal Brexit, opposition MPs and Tory rebels last week supported a bill that aims to block the UK leaving the EU without a deal on October 31. The Queen today approved the new legislation which means it has formally become a law. Boris Johnson said the new deal has “wrecked the chance of a deal”, but the PM has been warned flouting it could mean he incurs legal action against him. But what does it actually mean now Commons is suspending?

The threat of proroguing parliament to force through a no deal Brexit has been debated for the past few weeks, ever since Boris Johnson was voted in as the new Conservative Party leader, and subsequently Prime Minister.

The act of proroguing parliament brings an end to the current parliamentary session.

After which time there is a short break, usually lasting a few weeks, where parliamentary business concludes, before a new session begins.

Generally, parliamentary sessions last around a year, but the length can vary depending on the political climate.

Today, parliament will close a session which was opened in 2017, which was set to run for two years to “give MPs enough time to fully consider the laws required to make Britain ready for Brexit”.

Parliament will reopen on October 14, with a ceremony including a “Queen’s speech” whereby the government sets out the laws it wants to pass during the upcoming session.

The Commons must then approve the speech by voting in favour of it.

Parliamentary business which has not been completed by the end of a session is normally brought to an end, which means it cannot be recommenced at the beginning of the next session.

Many people believed Boris Johnson planned to prorogue parliament in a bid to force a no deal exit – by calling a halt to all business and simply running down the clock while MPs were unable to commence official parliamentary business.

So what does it mean for Brexit as the Commons is suspended?

Laws can only be devised and implemented when parliament is in session and where it is “sitting”.

During the week, parliament generally “sits” four days each week (Monday to Thursday), this would mean, without parliament being prorogued toda, there would have been roughly 22 parliamentary sitting days for official business to be conducted.

However, with the Commons being suspended today, MPs will have sat for only four days so far, and all existing legislative debates will now come to an end.

In that time, MPs passed a bill which compels the Prime Minister to ask the EU to extend the date of Brexit, it parliament has not voted in favour of a no deal Brexit, or for a withdrawal agreement, by October 19.

Parliament will return to business on October 14 for the Queen’s speech which must be approved by MPs.

By the time the speech is debated and approved, it is anticipated that parliament will only have six days before the current Brexit deadline of October 31.

During these six days, the government could attempt to pass a withdrawal deal, but as the EU has remained adamant it will not move on the issue of the Irish backstop and Mr Johnson has said he will not sign any deal that does not have that condition removed – it appears the deadlock may well continue.

If no agreement is passed by then, under the terms of the law just approved by the Queen, the date the UK leaves the EU will be pushed back to January 31, 2020, unless the EU refuses to agree to an extension.