Tory leadership: Esther McVey threatens to prorogue Parliament to trigger no-deal Brexit | indy100 | indy100

Esther McVey has become the second Tory leadership hopeful this week to say they would shut down parliament in order to secure a no-deal Brexit.

Known as proroguing parliament, the process is a way of bringing a parliamentary session to an end prematurely, as happens during a general election, allowing the government to enact its wishes without MPs having a say.

Speaking to Andrew Marr, the former Work and Pensions secretary who claimed people reliant on food banks prioritised buying iPads, said:

I would use every tool at my disposal, so that would include [shutting down parliament].

Known as proroguing parliament, the process is a way of bringing a parliamentary session to an end prematurely, as happens during a general election, allowing the government to enact its wishes without MPs having a say.

Her comments echo those of former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab, who told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Saturday:

I think it’s wrong to rule out any tool to make sure that we leave by the end of October.

To do so would draw the Queen directly into our current constitutional crisis - traditionally the monarch must be the one to end a session of parliament in such fashion - meaning Her Majesty could be blamed for either enabling or obstructing a no-deal Brexit.

It also means that any bills without royal assent by the time parliament ends "die" and must be re-introduced in the next session, unless MPs pass a "carry-over" motion.

Needless to say, people were left incensed by the suggestion.

Esther McVey says she's willing to shut down Parliament to take us out of the EU without a deal, knowing the majori… https://t.co/VP4JbWuOiL
— Femi (@Femi) 1560072916

@Femi_Sorry People’s vote oh no undemocratic. Shut down parliament yeah that’s fine. 1984 was meant to be a warning not your bible
— Steve Birkett (@Steve Birkett) 1560076696

@Femi_Sorry She should resign the Toryukip whip and join the Brexit Party. She behaves as if the slender referendum… https://t.co/2LJFfz09SB
— Padre Ugo non mangia culo di struzzo (@Padre Ugo non mangia culo di struzzo) 1560074399

@Femi_Sorry It is absolutely terrifying that this is the level of intelligence in the race to run our country.… https://t.co/xzYBacwGl2
— Carol Collis-Palmer (@Carol Collis-Palmer) 1560073132

@Femi_Sorry @OFOCBrexit She’s a lunatic & has no chance of becoming PM, but it’s a dark time indeed when politician… https://t.co/WyIlyLWirZ
— Megaark 🇬🇧🇪🇺🇮🇪🇪🇺🇩🇪 (@Megaark 🇬🇧🇪🇺🇮🇪🇪🇺🇩🇪) 1560080059

@Femi_Sorry @johnnyLander Let’s remove all power from Parliament, in the name of returning power to... Parliament?! Hmm 🤔
— 1985R (@1985R) 1560080761

“It would be illegal… it would be unconstitutional and it would be undemocratic” @RoryStewartUK reacts to Dominic… https://t.co/ePIBqfvC9D
— Peston (@Peston) 1559773198

Others were quick to offer up a short history lesson, given that Charles I famously prorogued parliament in a chain of events that led to civil war and, eventually, his execution.

@EstherMcVey1 and @DominicRaab both want to prorogue parliament to force their self-serving blinkered vision of Bre… https://t.co/JWf945ya8J
— Danny Sweeney🧡 🇪🇺🕯 (@Danny Sweeney🧡 🇪🇺🕯) 1560073137

Um, that would be a coup, @DominicRaab Charles I did that... it didn't end well. #RuleofParliament https://t.co/9d76r03nCI
— ⚫ Kaz Alexander #NHSLove 💙 (@⚫ Kaz Alexander #NHSLove 💙) 1560015135

@DominicRaab The ghost of the headless Charles I is stalking your campaign. You're playing with fire.
— John Zearcher (@John Zearcher) 1559988775

While others felt a more modern comparison was in order.

Fresh Tory leadership row as Dominic Raab suggests he could shut down Parliament to secure Brexit - PoliticsHome S… https://t.co/ObNbPFuGmV
— Stephen Foster (@Stephen Foster) 1559808964

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