Brexiteer MP Desmond Swayne called on Theresa May to suspend parliament until April in order to “guarantee Brexit” in the Commons yesterday evening.
The Conservative MP advised the PM to “prorogue Parliament” until Britain’s divorce with the European Union had been cemented, comments which were dismissed by the Tory leader.
Prorogation is the formal name given to the period between the end of a session of Parliament and the State Opening of Parliament that begins the next session.
It brings to an end nearly all parliamentary business.
Swayne’s comments come on the back of a week in which parliament wrestled control from the government, with speaker John Bercow making the headlines for allowing a vote on an amendment that will force the government to reveal their plan B within three days if they lose a meaningful vote.
Ian Dunt said we are witnessing “a constitutional war the likes of which we have not seen in our lifetime”, saying “parliament is now at war with government – and it’s winning”.
MP Dominic Grieve added that the events had “solidified and emphasised the key role of parliament.”