by Oui
Tue Sep 10th, 2019 at 01:25:27 AM EST
See my earlier diary - Joy for A Day ... Boris Humiliated .
And - Plan B: A Revolt In House of Commons.
More below the fold ...
Brexit: chaotic scenes in the Commons as parliament is suspended - live news
Richard Wheeler, PA's parliamentary editor, calls tonight "arguably the most surreal time I've spent in the Commons chamber in six-and-a-half years" as Labour and opposition MPs remained in the chamber as the Speaker and Conservative MPs left to go to the House of Lords to watch the ceremony required for prorogation.
Opposition MPs, holding up signs saying "silenced", who chanted "Shame on you!" as Conservative MPs left the chamber, started singing - Red Flag, Jerusalem, Flower of Scotland and Bread of Heaven.
Jeremy Corbyn is now shaking hands with John Bercow and Labour MPs are queued up to shake Bercow's hand. The Speaker is taking his time with each handshake, giving Ian Blackford a big pat of the back and a rub of the arm. Bercow now hugging John McDonell. This might take a while.
The Conservative benches are almost empty, whereas the Labour benches are packed with MPs holding up signs saying "silenced". These are quite extraordinary scenes.
John Bercow is reading out what happened. He sounds incredibly bored. He is saying that the leader of the House of Lords addressed the group and gave assent to the proroguing of parliament.
Parliament is prorogued
Lords have addressed the Speaker and ordered that parliament has been prorogued. There was a lot of hat-tipping and now the Speaker, Black Rod and other key MPs have left the Lords.
Related reading ...
○ UK protesters denounce "coup" after Boris Johnson shuts down Parliament | Vox |
○ Prorogue Parliament: Protests against decision to suspend Parliament, ahead of Brexit | BBC News |