WATCH: Jeremy Corbyn accuses Boris Johnson of 'running away' from scrutiny over Parliament shutdown
2 min read
Jeremy Corbyn has accused Boris Johnson of “running away” from scrutiny as it emerged Parliament will shut down for five weeks from today.
The Labour leader said it was "disgraceful" that the Prime Minister was going ahead with the prorogation plan despite the ongoing Brexit crisis.
It has also emerged that Baroness Smith, Labour's leader in the Lords, is to snub the prorogation ceremony in protest.
Downing Street confirmed that Parliament will prorogue after MPs vote on whether to have a snap election on Monday night.
MPs will not return until 14 October, when there will be a Queen's Speech setting out the Government's legislative agenda.
Mr Corbyn told the BBC: “I think it’s disgraceful. Parliament should be sitting and Parliament should be holding government to account, and the Prime Minister appears to be wanting to run away from questions.
“He was appointed Prime Minister at the end of July, he’s faced one Prime Minister’s Question time, and now he’s proroguing Parliament so that there will not be PMQs this Wednesday.
“I think it’s disgraceful.”
Opposition parties have declared they will vote against Mr Johnson's call for a general election to take place on 15 October, arguing it should not take place until a no-deal Brexit on 31 October has been completely ruled out.
But the PM’s spokesman said: "The Prime Minister is not going to seek an extension. If MPs want to resolve this there is an easy way – vote for an election today and let the public decide."
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Baroness Smith - one of five "commissioners" supposed to take part in the ancient prorogation ceremony - told PoliticsHome: "However the Government tries to dress it up, Mr Johnson’s decision to prorogue Parliament is a device geared simply to evading parliamentary scrutiny and engagement on matters relating to Brexit.
"I am not willing therefore to be party to such a political charade."
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