Nicola Sturgeon warns decision to suspend parliament 'is not democracy, it is dictatorship'

Boris Johnson has faced fierce criticism from across the political spectrum after requesting that the Queen suspends parliament in early September.

The Prime Minister’s decision, which the Queen has approved, means MPs will return from the summer recess for just over a week before parliament is suspended, drastically cutting the amount of time available to introduce legislation aimed at stopping a no deal Brexit.

Under Johnson’s plans, MPs would return to parliament on 3 September for around a week, then parliament would be suspended from between 9 and 12 Sept until the Queen’s speech on 14 October.

While the Scottish Conservatives defended the move, Johnson’s decision came under fire from the SNP, Labour, the Scottish Greens and the Lib Dems.

House of Commons Speaker John Bercow said it “represents a constitutional outrage”, while First Minister Nicola Sturgeon warned “this is not democracy, it is dictatorship".

Sturgeon said: “It’s absolutely outrageous. Shutting down parliament in order to force through a no deal Brexit, which will do untold and lasting damage to the country, against the wishes of MPs, is not democracy, it’s dictatorship. If MPs don’t come together next week to stop Boris Johnson in his tracks then I think today will go down in history as the day UK democracy died. This simply can’t be allowed to happen.”

Meanwhile Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he had written to the Queen to request a meeting “as a matter of urgency... before any final decision is taken”.

Corbyn said: “What the prime minister is doing is a sort of smash and grab on our democracy in order to force through a no-deal exit from the European Union. What is he so afraid of that he has to suspend parliament in order to prevent parliament discussing these matters?”

He added: “I am appalled at the recklessness of Johnson's government, which talks about sovereignty and yet is seeking to suspend parliament to avoid scrutiny of its plans for a reckless no deal Brexit. This is an outrage and a threat to our democracy.”

But the Scottish Conservatives backed the decision to suspend parliament. Constitution spokesman Adam Tomkins said: “Political opponents are being predictably hysterical about this move.

“And of course, Nicola Sturgeon wasted no time in using this as another way of agitating for independence.

“MPs within Labour, the SNP and the Lib Dems need to remember they were presented with three opportunities to vote for a deal, and they spurned that opportunity each time.

“The aim is still to strike a deal with the EU and, if and when that happens, there will be plenty of time for MPs to either vote for that, or vote for a no-deal Brexit.”

While opposition parties, including Labour, the SNP, the Lib Dems, the Greens and Plaid Cymru agreed yesterday to pursue legislative efforts to stop a no deal Brexit instead of lodging a vote of no confidence, the new, shorter timetable may force a change of tactics.

Meanwhile the cross-party group of MPs taking the UK Government to court in Scotland to stop Boris Johnson forcing through a no deal by suspending parliament has submitted a motion for an emergency ruling to speed up the process.

The group are seeking an interim interdict in the Court of Session in Edinburgh, which would see the case heard sooner than the current date set by the court of 6 September.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said: “I very much welcome the Prime Minister’s announcement today that the UK Government is to bring forward a new bold and ambitious legislative agenda. We are determined to make real change right across the UK, invest in infrastructure and connectivity, and cut the cost of living. To do that we need a Queen’s Speech.

“The Prime Minister has been very clear he wants us to leave the EU on 31 October with a deal, and we want the legislation to ratify that deal to be at the heart of our programme.

Bid to speed up Scottish legal case to halt suspension of parliament

“There will be ample Parliamentary time for MPs to debate Brexit, both ahead of and following the forthcoming European Council meeting. It is right that MPs have sufficient time to discuss these important issues, and I am sure that Scottish MPs from all parties will want to play a full part in those debates.

“MPs must remember that nearly three years ago the UK voted to leave the EU, and we must deliver the result of that referendum.”