Shutting down parliament is an assault on democracy
Responding to confirmation that the UK Parliament will be prorogued at close of business today, Scottish Greens Co-Leader Patrick Harvie MSP said:
“To shut parliament down at this moment, during a political and constitutional crisis, is a direct assault on democracy. The UK’s democratic institutions are far from perfect but, with a Prime Minister who cannot be trusted, it has never been more important that parliament holds his menacing regime to account, yet the UK’s archaic constitution means Johnson can shut down democracy whenever he chooses. Parliament has repeatedly demonstrated that it will not take the Prime Minister at his word, and has wisely refused his request to grant a general election, for the moment, until the threat of No-Deal Brexit is removed. The Scottish Greens will continue to work collaboratively with other parties to thwart Johnson’s catastrophic Brexit plans.”