Protesters gathered in dozens of locations around the country including London, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, Brighton, Swansea, Bristol and Liverpool.
Protesters take part in a demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain (Photo: IANS)
Thousands of protesters on Saturday gathered onto the streets across Britain in protest against British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s decision to suspend parliament.
Protesters gathered in dozens of locations around the country including London, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, Brighton, Swansea, Bristol and Liverpool, Xinhua news agency reported.
In London, crowds chanted outside the gates of Downing Street and waved homemade placards like “Resist the Parliament Shutdown” and “Defend Democracy”.
Advertisement
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell called Johnson’s decision to prorogue parliament an attempt “to shut down democracy”.
“If Boris Johnson wants a mandate, then he should call a general election and put it to the people, ” he said.
Last week, Queen Elizabeth II cleared that the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s plans to suspend the UK Parliament until October 14, days ahead of the October 31 Brexit deadline.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled plans to suspend Parliament until October 14, days ahead of the October 31 Brexit deadline, in order to present what was described as a “new bold and ambitious legislative agenda”, a move which has attracted widespread criticism from the Opposition.
It means the House of Commons will sit only for a few days after it returns next Tuesday from its summer recess. Parliament will then resume with a State Opening of Parliament by the British monarch on Oct. 14, just over two weeks before Britain’s planned departure from the European Union (EU) .
Critics of Johnson’s strategy claimed that he has planned the suspension to give MPs as little time as possible to challenge his decision to bring Britain out of the European Union (EU) with or without a deal on Oct. 31. The leader of the opposition Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn has said next week is the “last chance” to stop a no-deal Brexit.
Further mass demonstrations are expected when MPs return to Westminster on Tuesday.
Advertisement
