Parliament
- Boris Johnson suspends the UK parliament for over a month.
- There were chaotic scenes as opposition members of Parliament protested against the closure.
- The House of Commons speaker calls it an "act of executive fiat."
- MPs attempted to seize the speaker as they sought to block the suspension.
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There were chaotic scenes in the UK parliament in the early hours of Tuesday as members of parliament scuffled in the House of Commons chamber in protest over Boris Johnson's decision to suspend parliament for over a month.
Johnson moved to close down parliament in an apparent bid to prevent MPs from blocking a no-deal Brexit.
However, the bid failed this week after MPs succeeded in passing legislation to prevent a no-deal. Johnson also failed in his bid to call a general election before the UK's planned exit date from the EU of October 31.
There were shouts of "shame on you" from the opposition benches as Conservative MPs left the chamber to take part in the "proroguing" ceremony in the neighbouring House of Lords to coincide with the closure of parliament.
Read more: Boris Johnson's bid for early general election fails as MPs hand him sixth successive Commons defeat
Read more: John Bercow resigns as House of Commons speaker in emotional speech
Some Labour MPs sought to prevent the Speaker John Bercow, from joining the ceremony. Bercow, who announced his plan to resign on Monday, told MPs he would attend but understood why others would not.
"This isn't a normal or standard prorogation," Bercow told MPs.
"This represents an act of executive fiat and I quite understand why very large numbers of members are much more comfortable staying where they are."
Watch MPs protest against Johnson suspending parliament
Some MPs held up placards labeled "silenced" as the ceremony continued, before later breaking out into a chorus of Scottish, Welsh and English anthems.
When Bercow returned, MPs lined up to shake his hand before departing from the chamber for the final time before the sitting was suspended.
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BREAKING: A scuffle breaks out next to the Speaker's chair during the ceremonial closing of parliament.
Follow live here: https://t.co/OPHSadUnxI pic.twitter.com/gofcrP4zYz
- Sky News (@SkyNews) September 10, 2019
Because the Chamber is shaped like a church choir, & also because opposition parties waiting for the speaker to come back from the Lords - we're having a nationalist sing-song. Scots Welsh & English (we've done Jerusalem).
Oh & the Red Flag
Only 6 Tories in - not singing
- Ruth Cadbury MP (@RuthCadbury) September 10, 2019
Because the Chamber is shaped like a church choir, & also because opposition parties waiting for the speaker to come back from the Lords - we're having a nationalist sing-song. Scots Welsh & English (we've done Jerusalem).
Oh & the Red Flag
Only 6 Tories in - not singing
- Ruth Cadbury MP (@RuthCadbury) September 10, 2019
Opposition MPs shake hands with the Commons Speaker John Bercow following the suspension of parliament.
Get the latest on this story here: https://t.co/gC6PO9JsaJ pic.twitter.com/ZlXhjMz7xy
- Sky News (@SkyNews) September 10, 2019