British gov't to suspend parliament to stop MPs blocking no-deal: media

LONDON -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government is expected to ask Queen Elizabeth II to prorogue or suspend the Parliament from mid-September to mid-October, the BBC reported Wednesday.

The BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg tweeted that a suspension will pave the way for Johnson's new administration to hold a Queen's Speech -- laying out the government's future plans -- on Oct 14.

According to Kuenssberg, a senior Downing Street source has said that the Queen's speech process is "not about Brexit," and instead about "the NHS and violent crime ... the courts have no locus to interfere in a bog standard Queen's Speech process."

The idea of shutting down Parliament has caused controversy, with critics saying it would stop MPs being able to play their democratic part in the Brexit process.

Members of Parliament who oppose a no-deal Brexit have feared Johnson would attempt to stop them meeting, and won't take it lying down. Some have talked of simply continuing to meet in another building, and defying the government. Parliament has also passed measures aimed at forcing the government to let it meet.

However, Sky News reported that Johnson said it is "completely untrue" when asked if he was denying opposition MPs the time to stop a no-deal Brexit.

"We are bringing forward a new legislative programme on crime, hospitals, making sure we have the education funding we need," he said.

Johnson said there would be "ample time" for MPs to debate Brexit both before and after a "crucial" Brussels summit of EU leaders on Oct 17, Sky News said.

Some political opponents viewed Johnson's action as an attempt to limit their chances of preventing a no-deal Brexit on Oct 31.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said MPs must come together to stop the plan next week, or "today will go down in history as a dark one indeed for UK democracy."

"We do not have a 'new government.' This action is an utterly scandalous affront to our democracy. We cannot let this happen," deputy Labour leader Tom Watson said.

British Parliament will return from summer recess next week and another recess was expected to take place later in September to cover the political conference season.

Parliament is normally suspended -- or prorogued -- for a short period before a new session begins. It is done by the Queen, on the advice of the prime minister.