Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News At Five 20240714

In saying that the move is a constitutional outrage. Suspending parliament is not acceptable. Its not on. What the Prime Ministers doing is a sort of smash and grab on our democracy in order to force through a no deal exit from the European Union. Whats he so afraid of . Shock in westminster and beyond the government says it will suspend parliament for more than four weeks in september as the brexit deadline looms. Critics say its a constitutional outrage, a dark day for democracy, its 5pm, and today, in a dramatic move, the government but the Prime Minister insists its has asked the queen to suspend about getting on with the countrys future. Parliament just days after mps return to work next month we need new legislation, and only weeks before weve got to be bringing forward the brexit deadline. New and important bills and thats why were going to have a queens speech and were the government says its going to do it on october the 14th. To allow a queens speech, laying out its legislative plans suspending parliament is not on other issues, on the 14th of october. Acceptable, its not on. What the Prime Minister is doing is a smash and grab this afternoon the queen on our democracy in order to force gave her assent to the move. Through a no deal exit. Tonight, Ruth Davidson, leader of the scottish this is the order proroguing parliament that was approved by the queen at the privy Council Meeting at balmoral. It states that parliament should be suspended no earlier than september the 9th and no later than thursday the 12th of september until the 14th of october thats nearly five weeks. The Prime Minister denied that he was trying to silence mps opposed to a no deal brexit. But senior politicians have condemned the move as an affront to democracy. The commons speaker, john bercow, described it as a constitutional outrage. Our Political Correspondent tom barton reports. This is how the house of commons could look for nearly five weeks in september and october. As the brexit deadline approaches, mps wont be sitting on the green benches. Parliament, suspended. Boris johnson today speaking to the queen to ask her to bring the current sitting of parliament to a close. But, says the Prime Minister, this has nothing to do with brexit. If you look at what we are doing, we are bringing forward a new legislative programme on crime, on hospitals. Making sure that we have the Education Funding that we need. And there will be ample time on both sides of that crucial october the 17th summit, ample time in parliament for mps to debate the eu, to debate brexit, and all the other issues. Ample time. But mps who want to stop a no deal brexit smell a rat. Calling the decision a declaration of war and a constitutional outrage. It is a constitutional outrage. This is an attempt by the Prime Minister, who was elected by a very small number of people in the countrys conservative party membership, to ride roughshod over parliament and prevent any legislation or debate that would stop this country leaving the eu without a deal and all the problems it would cause. He is acting like some kind of tinpot dictator. It frankly is not acceptable and if mps dont stop it then it is no exaggeration, it is not hyperbole, to say this is the day any semblance of uk parliamentary democracy absolutely dies. This is not a normal prorogation that is being asked for, this is a cynical prorogation to force the country into a no deal brexit, which is a catastrophe by the governments own admission. It is an absolute disgrace and it is completely unconstitutional. And in a way even more outrageously, it has put our queen in a very difficult situation. But Northern Irelands dup, on whose support borisjohnson relies in parliament, say they are backing this move. I think that the Prime Minister is well within his rights to look for a queens speech. He wants to set out his domestic agenda, it gives us the opportunity in Northern Ireland to bring focus back to Northern Ireland again, especially around the confidence and supply agreement, and i look forward to engaging with the Prime Minister over the coming weeks. Order the speaker of the commons today described the plan as a constitutional outrage and an offence against the democratic process. But the government says it is completely normal for a new Prime Minister to hold a queens speech in order to set out their programme for government. From the Prime Ministers point of view, this is part of his powers. He has the right to ask for parliament, this parliamentary session, to finish, and a new one to start, but its the way that he is using it that will cause such controversy and will outrage many people. Whatever the constitutional implications, there is no doubt that kicking mps out of here for a month is going to cause an almighty political row. This has been a day of extraordinary developments, and one of them was seeing the privy council leading up to bow moral to talk to the queen, where she spends all this typically on family holiday. Leading up to bow moral. We saw the chief whip, the leader of the commons, Jacob Rees Mogg, and the lords leader, baroness evans, going in their roles as privy Council Members to talk to the queen at balmoral, to get her assent to this decision to Prorogue Parliament. Lets hear what Jacob Rees Mogg had to say after that meeting. Are you trying to avoid the scrutiny of parliament . Certainly not, no. Are you worried about a legal challenge . This is a completely proper constitutional procedure. Are you certain that it wont be up for challenge . The courts will come to their decision, but this is a completely normal procedure. Will the vote of no confidence get in the way of this plan . Well, i understood mr corbyn said he wasnt going to have one yesterday. Has he changed his mind again . That is the leader of the commons. Now lets talk to simon mccoy. Weve had some trouble getting hold of you lets hope it works now thank you. Its been a remarkable day at westminster, as people have been trying to work out exactly what borisjohnson has trying to work out exactly what Boris Johnson has done trying to work out exactly what borisjohnson has done with this call to Prorogue Parliament. Lets talk to ben wright, who joins call to Prorogue Parliament. Lets talk to ben wright, whojoins me on the line. Ben, lets work out how big a gamble this is that the Prime Minister has taken. Its a huge gamble, simon, you heard Jacob Rees Mogg saying, this is routine constitutional behaviour by a government and, in some ways, yes, proroguing parliament to clear the decks and have a queens speech is com pletely decks and have a queens speech is completely normal, but theyve done it in the middle of a huge political crisis, with two monster dough until brexit day, with a parliament, from we can tell, a majority of whom oppose a no deal brexit, and this clearly looks like number ten shaving down the number of days available to mps who want to try and thought the government pursuing a new deal brexit. This will add has provoked a huge backlash from mps, right across the parties, who say this is a constitutional outrage and they will do whatever they can to stop it. The big question is what. There is very little time for those mps who oppose a no deal brexit to get their ducks in a row and work out what their response should be. There are too much audiences for the Prime Minister, one is political constituency behind me, but also the view in brussels will be important. When cole one argument borisjohnson has been making for the last few weeks to eu leaders is dont believe that parliament can stop a no deal brexit, and i think he may say that what he is doing today proves that again, dont bank on them trying to save this at the last minute. This isa save this at the last minute. This is a Prime Minister who is intent, if necessary, ongoing for a no deal brexit, and i think the way that parliament is being treated today proves his determination to do that. I think many in the eu might be looking on with some mystification at all this, because i dont get a sense from eu people that ive spoken to that they were banking on parliament derailing this at all, but their objection to Boris Johnsons ask is the fact that they dont think its possible to scrap the backstop from this deal, and im not sure whats going on in parliament now is making much difference to their calculation for stop thank you, ben. Lets go to balmoral, because rachel bell is there. That was an abrupt end to her holiday. Exactly, and we are coming to the end of a very action filled day at balmoral, which has kinda broken the serenity that is usually here on royal deeside. For many people visiting today, for the tourists, it would have been a normal day. They were looking into the castle behind me, seeing whether they could spot the queen. Of late, we have got some protesters, keen to make their views heard. Everything has been happening behind closed doors, so we know that Jacob Rees Mogg, baroness evans and the chief whip, mark spencer, all visited the queen earlier today to ask permission to suspend parliament. We know that permission was granted. They must have made their way here in quite a discreet fashion, because there was an army of media here, waiting to film them going in, but they must have used one of the other many entrances to this vast estate on royal deeside. We are not sure how long the meeting lasted, and it could have been as short as ten minutes. These things tend to be over quite quickly. And then they got back on their way, headed back into aberdeen, which is about an hour headed back into aberdeen, which is aboutan hourand headed back into aberdeen, which is about an hour and 15 minutes away, and our colleagues were in contact with Jacob Rees Mogg at the airport, and they asked whether he was worried about a legal challenge, and he said, it is completely proper constitutional procedure. When asked if the queen was happy to see him, he simply said, youd have to ask her majesty. There has been a bit of, shall we say, a break in the queens holiday. This is a private holiday, she comes to balmoral every year. She is here to relax and spend time with family members. We know that other members of the royal family have been here in the past while, including the duke and duchess of cambridge, as well as their children. So, yes, a busy time for the queen on her holiday at balmoral. Thank you. We are joined by nicholas witchell, our royal correspondent. It is her majesty at the heart of the brexit crisis, just where she doesnt want to be tiger i think there is no doubt that she will be both concerned and unhappy at two levels first at the way in which she has been involved, in a way that many people will regard as a cynical tactic to curb the freedom of parliament to discuss this huge issue, and i think she will be concerned, as head of state, at the divisiveness of this. As if the country wasnt split enough, as if emotions werent already at such a pitch. Now this. I think that is something that will concern her greatly. She has been punctilious for the 67 years of her reign had to stay out of politics. Every Prime Minister up until now has recognised that fact and has ensured that there has been no attempt to involve her 01 has been no attempt to involve her or to appear to involve her in politics until today. And she had very little option but to accede to the advice of her ministers and to agree to this prorogation. Because thatis agree to this prorogation. Because that is her role. She acts on the advice of her ministers. Prorogation is one of the last areas of royal prerogative. In theory, a monarch could refuse, but in practice you get into even deeper constitutional water if you have a head of state, a monarch, who can decide his or her initiative whether to accept the advice of her ministers. She has never during her reign refused to accept the advice of her ministers. She has never not done so. She is a monarch who is guided by precedent, so monarch who is guided by precedent, so she will have felt, i am short, actually, she will have felt pretty boxed in, that she had no option, but she and her advisers, i have little doubt, will frankly be resentful of the way this has been done and will be concerned at the headlines which say, queen suspense parliament. It was done so on the advice of her ministers. We suspect that nobody knows better than she does what is at risk, the very union of the kingdom. Absolutely. She is in scotland, and we know she is concerned about the impact of this on the union, especially the debate in scotland about another referendum there, about leaving the union. 67 yea rs, there, about leaving the union. 67 years, she has, for all that she is kept out of politics, she keeps a eye on it. She will be very concerned, yes, at the impact of this on the way the uk will see it self, and the way the will be seen internationally, for parliament, its not been completely suspended, the limiting of the debate in parliament is something that clearly will concern her. Costa at the moment, she is scheduled to give a queens speech here on the 14th of october. Well, thats what the government has decided. It might have been thought that it would be more sensible to wait for a new session of parliament, until all the brexit business is settled, but that is where, i think, people will feel that this is a tactic, this is a strategy worked out in downing street. One has to wonder, i have no idea whether Buckingham Palace pushed back at all, whether downing street wanted a longer suspension. Ive no reason to think that may have been the case, but i am absolutely confident that her advisers, led by edward jung, her private secretary, will have been watching this closely and will not have been greatly pleased at the turn of events, with three members of the privy council arriving at balmoral today, advising her to Prorogue Parliament. Fascinating. Thank you. A little earlier, i spoke to sirjohn redwood, a prominent conservative brexiteer, about whether prorogation is a way of derailing any anti no deal movement. Weve had two years of trying to stop brexit, and theyve had endless debates and votes about the subject, and they didnt manage to do that. I think enough of them understand its the will of the british people and that they would be in electoral trouble if they really did sabotage brexit completely. This is a new government, new Prime Minister, saying, i want to start a new parliamentary session the old one has gone on far longer than any previous session for many hundreds of years and we need a new programme so that parliament can debate the new Prime Ministers proposals. Quite right, too. Is this a very high risk strategy, given that it will increase calls for a no confidence motion, certainly amongst some labour mps, also the possibility of a legal challenge, and also doesnt it put the queen in rather a difficult position . It shouldnt put the queen in a difficult position at all. She will follow the advice of her Prime Minister, and the opposition, who dont like it, will take it out on the Prime Minister. That is our traditional way of doing things. And i trust the courts will keep out of this, because surely parliament is the court to decide when it meets and what debates it has. There is an irony to what youve just said. It will be decided by parliament. If parliament doesnt like this proposal, it will have to kick it out, wont it . But there is an irony to all of this, of course, which is that brexit is about taking back control, but here we are talking about a Prime Minister suspending parliament. No, but we are putting parliament back at centre stage by taking those powers on the 31st of october and having a new programme for parliament to use the powers and the money that have previously been given away to europe. This parliament is as sovereign as it wishes to be over these matters you are talking about today. If there is a majority against mrjohnson and his proposals, then they have to table a motion of no confidence and win it. I dont think they can and i dont think they will. But that is where their sovereignty lies. They cant and they probably wont because he has just taken away the very time that they would be given to do that. They could do it immediately, if they wanted to do. If they really do think this is wrong and they have a majority to establish its wrong, they should table a no confidence motion on the first day back, and that would take precedence over all other business. I dont think theyll do it because they know they cant do it because it isnt the will of this parliament to thwart the new Prime Minister and to thwart brexit. This parliament has to rebuild its trust from the british people, and the british people expect it to carry out its promise, which, in the 2017 election, was to take us out of the eu. Lets speak now to the labour mp and chair of the brexit select committee, hilary benn. What a day it has been quite a day. Ididnt what a day it has been quite a day. I didnt think the Prime Minister would dare do it, but he has, and i think, whether people are in favour of brexit or against it, part of the job of being Prime Minister is to be scrutinised by parliament, to be asked questions, and at this crucial moment for the future of the country, with so many Unanswered Questions about how no deal would work, what kind of deal he is trying to negotiate with the eu, if negotiations are taking place, the Prime Minister wants to close the door parliament and sent us away for over a month, and door parliament and sent us away for overa month, and it door parliament and sent us away for over a month, and it would mean for his first three months as Prime Minister he would have faced mps for less tha n minister he would have faced mps for less than two weeks, and nobody could describe that as democratic. To be fair, the house was going at it reset anyway. You are talking about four or five days you are losing. It isnt shutting the door on parliament or debate. Parliament might have had something to say about the Conference Season anyway, given the stage we have reached when it comes to the brexit negotiations. Are any negotiations taking place . Is the Prime Minister going to come forward with alternative arrangements for the irish stop . Ultimately, theresa may was not successful in persuading the eu those proposals were workable. What happened the day after a no deal brexit . What kind of trade deal might we have with the eu when they will first will ask for the money we owe them and for some kind of arrangement to solve the border in Northern Ireland . Arrangement to solve the border in Northern Ireland . These are all questions we as parliamentarians need to put to the Prime Minister and other ministers, and the Prime Minister is deliberately minimising the time for that. Baker as parliamentarians, you can either ta ke parliamentarians, you can either take control of this place or get rid of this government. What are you going to do . I am determined to do what i can to prevent a no deal brexit. There is no mandate for it from the referendum. At how are you going to do that . We demonstrated as parliamentarians earlier this year oui parliamentarians earlier this year our ability to legislate against the wishes of the government to require that then Prime Minister, theresa may, to ask for more time. Weve done it before and we can do it again. In the end, it will depend on each parliamentarian, who in their hearts knows that a no deal brexit, whatever kind of outcome they favour, who knows that a no deal brexit is damaging for the country and our future and brexit is damaging for the country and ourfuture and not in brexit is damaging for the country and our future and not in the national interest. They have to vote at the right time to pass legislation to stop this happening thatis legislation to stop this happening that is precisely what the Prime Minister is afraid of. He is also taking a gamble that any no confidence if there was one, would fail because there is no alternative. I think legislation is likely to be the route that parliamentarians are sick to favour. Even with this . Time is now very short. I think its hard to see how prorogation could be prevented, and there was a legal challenge, but i was surprised myself with the course it took to interfere in this process , it took to interfere in this process, and therefore, in the time we have from next tuesday, when parliament returns until the ninth, tenth or 11th of september, that is the window in which parliament could seek to legislate, focusing on the thing which really matters, which is stopping the Prime Ministerfrom taking us out of the eu without an agreement. Thank you for that. There was another audience that the Prime Minister was appealing to, and that was europe. Well, the european parliaments chief negotiator, guy verhofstadt, has accused borisjohnson of suppressing debate. Our correspondent, adam fleming, is in brussels. Theyve had a few hours to think about this. Any response . The reactions weve had have tended to be people who are, i hate to put it this way, but less influential, less close to brexit, and theyve tended to focus on how this makes the uk look as a democracy, so you saw the tweet from guy verhofstadt, the brexit coordinator for the european parliament. He quoted the slogan from the winning leave campaign in the referendum, and he said taking back control never looked more sinister. A french mep, used to be the french europe minister and is close to emanuel macron, french president , said it was almost as if the uk was suffering from a disease which meant they didnt want to debate big, momentous decisions like brexit. The chair of the foreign affa i rs brexit. The chair of the Foreign Affairs committee in the German Parliament pondered whether you could, on the one hand, say you were representing the will of the people by delivering brexit while, on the other, reducing the number of days that parliament could set in terms of the eus negotiators, they are keeping pretty quiet, and thats because they dont want to buy into this borisjohnson narrative that if only you could have a big confrontation in parliament in the first couple of weeks of september against those remainers and people opposed to no deal and people who wa nt opposed to no deal and people who want another referendum, that would somehow unlock the key to a better deal being offered by brussels. They dont think that is how it is going to work. That is not what they are going to react to. Instead, their focus is on the still substantive issues, things like, can the uk come forward with a workable alternative to the stuff in the Withdrawal Agreement about the irish border which the uk government does not accept . Have a listen to the deputy Prime Minister of ireland, simon coveney, who was visiting paris today. We spent many, many months putting together a Withdrawal Agreement that was a compromise on both sides, in order to get a fair deal that was good for the United Kingdom and also acceptable to the eu, that protected the Peace Process on the island of ireland, that allowed the republic of ireland to stay in the eu Single Market while, at the same time, preventing physical border infrastructure re emerging on the island of ireland, which was the source of such tension in the past. And now we have a British Government who seems to be simply wiping the slate clean on the irish issue, in terms of the commitments that theyve made, and we can never sign an agreement with that approach. So weve always said, if there is to be a no deal brexit, it will be the choice of a british Prime Minister and a British Parliament to allow that to happen. Thats all very well, but things seem thats all very well, but things seem to have shifted several gears in the last few hours. What has been happening in brussels in the last few hours is that the Prime Ministers single europe advisor, his sherpa, david frost has been here, talking to the eus negotiating team, a low key meeting, and it doesnt sound like anything has happened or the uk has proposed anything, but they have agreed to intensify their work. We dont know what that means in practice, but it does sound like british officials or british politicians will be over here in brussels more regularly than they have been in the last few weeks, working more on alternatives to the backstop. Now, is that Boris Johnsons approach working . Well never really know. But what it does seem never really know. But what it does seem is that the eu is taking seriously the uks proposals. Whether they will take them seriously and find them acceptable isa seriously and find them acceptable is a different matter. Adam, i think i called you ben, it could have been worse, but thank you for the just a line coming in from the leader of the scottish conservatives, Ruth Davidson. I will read this straight. She says she is considering her position and will make a statement tomorrow. Thats all weve got. May be on the verge of resignation, we are being told. That is Ruth Davidson. So the ramifications increase by the minute. We are watching bbc news, live in westminster. Our ireland correspondent, chris page, joins us from belfast. There, as everywhere, trying to work out what happens next. Can you hear me, chris page . I think we may have a problem with chris. I can see him but he cant hear me. Lets talk to meg russell, the director of the constitution unit at university couege constitution unit at University College london. Shejoins me for step you forjoining us. How big is today in political history terms . What has happened is very significant. Prorogation is happen all the time, between one session of parliament and the next, but the key thing is they normally last about three orfour thing is they normally last about three or four days, so thing is they normally last about three orfour days, so here thing is they normally last about three or four days, so here we are, in the middle of the biggest political crisis weve had since the second world war, weve got the brexit clock ticking down to october the 31st, parliament has been in recess five weeks, weve got a Prime Minister who has had parliamentary scrutiny for a total of one day, and 110w scrutiny for a total of one day, and now we are going to have another suspension of parliament for another five weeks, so that there is no scrutiny. This is very, very extraordinary, and i think you could go so faras extraordinary, and i think you could go so far as to save unconstitutional, because the centre of our constitution is parliamentary sovereignty and governmental accountability to parliament, and we are seeing no accountability. He hasnt shut the doors of parliament, it sits again next week, and in effect, because there would have been a recess anyway, hes reduced the number of sitting days by four 01 the number of sitting days by four or five days. I think is the more than that. As hilary benn said, there was due to be a conference recess, but that hadnt even been proposed in the commons yet, and lots of mps were gathering to vote down the proposal to have a conference down the proposal to have a c0 nfe re nce recess down the proposal to have a conference recess in order to Keep Parliament sitting. On top of that, when they come back, assuming the prorogation goes ahead, when they come back on october the 1ath, the first thing that happens is a queen speech and then, by convention, you have days of debate on that. That leaves precious little space to scrutinise him on his brexit policy. Lets talk about the breaking news, Ruth Davidson, conservative leader in scotland, on the verge of resignation, considering her position, making a statement tomorrow. How big a deal would that be . I think that is a pretty big deal. Ruth davidson is a popular politician. Scotland will be very important to them if we end up with a general election, which looks increasingly likely, and that starts to look to me like the conservative Party Falling apart. Well need to talk to some conservative politicians about that, but it sounds significant. Is there still a Legal Recourse to stop what is going on 01 Legal Recourse to stop what is going on or what Boris Johnson Legal Recourse to stop what is going on or what borisjohnson would like to happen . Two key things could happen, and there is a third possible thing mps could try and insert. I think, possible thing mps could try and insert. Ithink, on possible thing mps could try and insert. I think, on the day they come back, they may want an emergency debate to express their rejection of prorogation, which would not have legal teeth but would be political significant the legal route they could take is to try to legislate, but the window for that is closing down. The other thing is the Nuclear Option of the vote of no confidence in the government. That is hanging by a thread, i think, things like Ruth Davidsons resignation will make. If that we re resignation will make. If that were to go ahead, thats the kind of thing that would make conservative mps think very hard about how sustainable this situation is. Thank you forjoining us. The former chancellor, philip hammond, has been giving his reaction to the prorogation of parliament. This is what he had to say. It is profoundly undemocratic ata time say. It is profoundly undemocratic at a time of National Crisis. Parliament must be able to meet, to hold the government to account, to represent our constituents, the electorate, up and down the country, and it is undemocratic to shut parliament down, to stop it doing itsjob, at a time of parliament down, to stop it doing its job, at a time of National Crisis like this. This is going to happen, what are you going to do to try to stop the Prime Minister ticking out of the eu without the deal . As i have said before we are determined parliament was so before we are determined parliament was so its resolved to present and no deal brexit. A number of my collea g u es no deal brexit. A number of my colleagues will have preferred to wait until the 30 days that the Prime Minister has talked about was up Prime Minister has talked about was up and move in late september. That will now not be possible. We will have to try to do something when parliament returns next week. That means action within the coming days. Is it legislation or would you and your colleagues be prepared to bring down the government . your colleagues be prepared to bring down the government . I have always made clear im not interested in bringing down the government. I simply want the government to recognise that the majority in parliament is against a no deal brexit and it is democratically essential that the government ensures we do not have a no deal brexit. As you know there will be many brexiteers who say people like you want to stop brexit, you didnt agree with that in the first place and you have tried to frustrated all along, is that not part of what this is, people who dont want brexit to happen we are angry that the Prime Minister is determined to see it through . Total nonsense. It is people who want to avoid a no deal brexit. Of course i campaigned to remain in the referendum but like many of my colleagues i accepted the result and have campaigned ever since to ensure we get a brexit that protects british jobs, since to ensure we get a brexit that protects britishjobs, british workers and british prosperity in the future. No deal brexit would be extremely bad for britain cosmic economy, even worse for the integrity of our United Kingdom and our future security and strategic strength in the world. Our future security and strategic strength in the worldlj our future security and strategic strength in the world. I know you can see it on your screen but it is worth create a rating that broke the news that the scottish conservative leader Ruth Davidson is considering how position, on the verge of resignation and making a statement tomorrow. All lies of course will be on that. All eyes. Lets go to chris page whojoins on that. All eyes. Lets go to chris page who joins us on that. All eyes. Lets go to chris page whojoins us now on that. All eyes. Lets go to chris page who joins us now from belfast. This confidence and supply that frankly Boris Johnson desperately needs, how fragile is that with this announcement today . The Democratic Unionist Party as you say, Northern Irelands largest party, it is they are ten mps who keep borisjohnson party, it is they are ten mps who keep Boris Johnson in party, it is they are ten mps who keep borisjohnson in power at westminster, they prop up the minority government. They are pro brexit, antique backstop, that is the measure intended to keep the irish border open under any circumstances, they would say that is putting a separation between Northern Ireland and the rest of uk because it would mean them being tied to european rules on goods. On the suspension of parliament dup are right behind government. Arlene foster was quick to issue a response to the announcement this morning. She has said this is a perfectly reasonable that a parliamentary procedure that queens speech is long overdue, also pointing towards the renewal of the dups confidence and supply deal with the conservative party and they say they will be reviewing that deal in the break in parliamentary session that they are hoping to have that renewed after a review whenever the queens speech does happen in the middle of october. Thumbs up from the dup but they are really along politically in they are really along politically in the nouns in taking the position. The other four main parties have all strongly criticised the government, the strongest criticism coming from the strongest criticism coming from the parties who have campaigned in favour of the backstop and the Cross Community alliance party, sdlp and sinn fein, who have set it is a callous political ploy. Thank you. Chris page in belfast. It is starting to rain in westminster because the temperature is skyrocketing. A short break. Catch up skyrocketing. A short break. Catch up with the sport. Bury have been expelled from the football league. That happened late last night. Sports minister nigel adams called it a dark day for football, england womens head coach phil neville, who has close links with the club, says the heart has been ripped from the town. This after tickets had been printed for saturdays game, fans cleaned the stadium in preparation, all ahead of a takeover from c and n sporting risk, which looked set to safeguard its future. But the sporting Analytics Company pulled out at the 11th hour due to insurmountable challenges. Neville, whose mum jill was club secretary, and dad neville was director, called it a desperate situation for the fans. When you tune into bbc, burys name will no longer be read out, ligue one, league 2, this club was one of the founding members of the league. When football started in england bury was one of the first club south it is ultimately, it has happened, they have to recover, and those supporters that have given their lives to helping, notjust my mum, people who have been working there for a long time that will now have a big void in their lives. That is the upsetting thing. I have to say, it is not nice. The efl have promised to launch an investigation, and will consider a salary cap to limit clubs from overspending. Theyve also agreed to look at the fit and proper persons check that owners have to go through before buying a club, with criticism that its not fit for purpose. One thing that i have said when people have often said to me, what do you think needs looking at . Player wages, i think they need to be considered without question because of your revenue is x and your outgoings are x plus whatever that number may be, clearly in the long term that is not going to be sustainable. If the point that you are making is do we need to sit back and consider what has gone on and learn lessons from it, i completely agree with you. Bolton, who are facing liquidation, have reportedly been told by their administrators plans to shut the club down have been put on hold. The efl issued a 14 day notice of withdrawl, to sell the club or produce proof of funds, they faced the same 5pm deadline as bury. Football ventures deal, which was halted on saturday, could be back on. Its thought an internal message was circulated to club staff this morning to ease concerns the business is about to close. 150 jobs are at risk. Mako vunipola will miss englands final Rugby World Cup warm up game against italy with a hamstring injury. The prop suffered a small tissue tear against ireland, shortly after making his long awaited comeback from another hamstring problem. He is only expected to be out for around ten days which shouldnt affect his involvement in the world cup. Exeters ben moon has been called up as cover ahead of the match at St James Park next week. Australian batsman steve smith says he is looking forward to facing jofra archer again when the ashes resumes next week. Smith was keen to point out that archer is yet to get him out. The former australian captain has been cleared to play in the tour match against derbyshire after suffering from concussion in the first innings of the drawn second test at lords when he was hit by an archer bouncer. The ashes is currently tied at 1 1, after england won a dramatic third test at headingley which smith missed. Before we go, Britains Dan Evans and Johanna Konta are both in second round action at the us open today. The start of kontas match has been delayed by rain, and news on some stinging criticsim from nick kyrigos about the atp, labelling the organisiation corrupt, having been hit with a huge fine at the cincinnatti masters a few weeks ago, another could follow. Well have more for you in sportsday at half past six. Welcome back to westminster. This history mayjudge this is to be a momentous day and not only process a momentous day and not only process a brexit but also in the political importance of the conservative party. I can nowjoin the conservative peer lord heseltine who joins me via webcam from montenegro. Has what the Prime Minister has announced today, is that a decisive moment or is it a risky moment . Announced today, is that a decisive moment or is it a risky moment7m isa moment or is it a risky moment7m is a high risk moment. It is a constitutional outrage. I believe that it will provoke serious numbers of conservative party to say we will have nothing to do with this. I never thought i would say this, but this is a humiliation of parliament. This is the clearest indication that the existing conservative government is terrified of the comments. And has therefore done the most common thing. It has got the commons out of the constitutional proceedings. I never thought i would see such a thing. We are hearing the Ruth Davidson is due to make a statement tomorrow but is on the verge of resignation. What damage was up to it Boris Johnson . Ruth davidson is a highly respected member of the conservative party. She is in and i think unique position because one of the consequences of the brexit deal would be to threaten the existence of the United Kingdom. And if the conservatives in scotland feel that they have been betrayed by the government in westminster, that will be one more stepping stone to the break up of the United Kingdom, which is an appalling prospect and the fact that it can be even contemplated by a conservative government, a conservative and unionist government i find appalling. Isnt there a risk that theres been an overreaction to this given that there was scheduled to be a recess anyway and what is effectively lost is perhaps five or six or seven days of debate, that there will be. , fit. This is the spin ofa there will be. , fit. This is the spin of a ruthless number 10 machine. This is a significant determinant calculated move to frustrate parliament. Dont let anybody deceive you about anything else. White what are the options of those who are determined to stop no deal . Those who are determined to stop nodeal . We solve the meeting yesterday. Do they need to grab the time here in the building behind me or is it time for a no confidence motion . If you are still in parliament how would you vote . Motion . If you are still in parliament how would you vote . |j parliament how would you vote . think the no confidence concept now is something fairly shaky because i dont think anyone has got any confidence but the problem of courses that it is linked with putting Jeremy Corbyn in number 10 and nobody, how many people are all in favour of that . What but i think will have been happening all day is the best legal brains in the country will be searching the precedents and legal arguments to take this into the courts. I am appalled that that should happen to a conservative government but i am not the slightest doubt, i am on holiday in montenegro so i am to touch but i have the slightest doubt that legal search would be well under way. Thank you for your time. The bbc understands that Ruth Davidson is on the verge of resignation as the leader of the scottish conservatives. Lets speak to our scotland correspondent, lorna gordon, in glasgow. What are you hearing . We are hearing no statement tonight and that feels unlikely at the moment but she is said to be considering her position, on the point of resignation, and she is likely to make a statement tomorrow. There was some mood music suggesting something might be a fit, very difficult to get hold of scottish conservatives today. No one has been picking up therefrom. From that you could read that this discussion has been going on for some time and that i perhaps got the news themselves a little earlier on today. You have to remember of course that Ruth Davidson has been hugely important to the conservative party here in scotland, critical some would say to their revival. They now have 31 msps in the scottish parliament, 13 mps at westminster, but she has never been afan of westminster, but she has never been a fan of borisjohnson. He wasnt her choice for later. She didnt vote for him. She said when he was appointed Prime Minister to judge him by his actions. And from what were hearing today, she is not happy with the way things are panning out. She hasnt been a fan of no deal brexit at all. She said she could not tolerate that and could not put up with it. So tonight, this afternoon, we are hearing she is considering her position and about to resign. Thank you. Lets go to cardiff now and speak to james wells, brexit party mep for wales. There is the risk i am guessing of those who support what borisjohnson and including yourself that this could backfire horribly. and including yourself that this could backfire horribly. I dont think so. We in the brexit party think so. We in the brexit party think this is a positive development. We had a referendum three years ago, over three years ago will step since then we have had the last two years,. We have had a remain establishment trying to block the democratic will of the British Public. I listened to some of your guests and they called this a constitutional outrage. What i would say is what has happened of the last two years say is what has happened of the last two yea rs has say is what has happened of the last two years has been a constitutional outrage. But what it all comes back to at the end of the day is the intention of Boris Johnson. To at the end of the day is the intention of borisjohnson. And what his intentions are in terms of the deal that he intends to do with the eu. Because the British Public are not stupid. It borisjohnson intends to bring theresa mays withdrawal treaty back minus the backstop and maybe a few other tweaks, he better think again because the British Public will punish a conservative government of the attempt to do that. There is the risk for your course that is the only brexit on offer because what we are seeing and what im hearing behind me as the howls of protest, the outrage that the idea of no deal brexit and no process by which parliament can say yes or no to it . If you look at the polls in the last couple of weeks, you could have done a pupils, what that shows is no deal or i should say a clean break, is the most popular deal on the table now. Particularly when it is up against revocation of article 50 or a Jeremy Corbyn government. So i think the British Public now dont believe all the scare stories, they want brexit done and actually at this stage now the majority of the British Public wa nt the majority of the British Public want a the majority of the British Public wa nt a clea n the majority of the British Public want a clean brexit. Boris johnson is being accused of being undemocratic, that this is an outrage to democracy. His critics have a point, dont lie, because he is basically shopping parliament down. No, they dont at all. I will repeat myself again. Over the last two years what we have seen is a constitutional outrage. The British Public voted by a majority three yea rs public voted by a majority three years ago to leave the European Union. Parliament then voted to enact article 50. Neither of them votes were dependent on a deal. It was a deal or no deal. The fact we have got a remain establishment in westminster trying to thwart the democratic will of the British Public, that is the constitutional outrage. James wells of the brexit party, thank you. So, what do voters make of todays dramatic developments . Back in 2016 birmingham voted to leave the European Union by a whisker. Our correspondent phil mackie has spent the morning speaking to people there. Birmingham caught many people by surprise when it narrowly voted to leave in 2016. But with a population of 1. 1 million there was no uniform vote across the city. This is harborne, an affluent suburb in the centre of birmingham where 65 of people voted to remain in the 2016 referendum. It has also always been a key election battleground as well, although the conservatives have not held a seat here since 1997. No one voted for a no deal brexit. I have come to terms with brexit, its going to happen, but give us a deal, give us the options. The fundamental principle is democracy. Now, if parliament itself is not democratic, then democracy overrides the principle of a parliamentary democracy, because theyre not working in a democratic fashion, theyjust want to undermine the democratic vote thats already ta ken place. Its very, very dangerous what theyre doing. So you think to stop legislation that would prevent a no deal brexit, proroguement of parliament, suspending it, is ok . It seems to be the only way, yeah. Harborne has a thriving high street filled with small, independent businesses. Here there is frustration with westminster and a desperation for certainty. I suppose my thought is i would like to see a completion and we need to stick to the dates which have been put in place so far. Even if that meant no deal . Even if that means no deal, yeah. This is northfield, about four miles away from harborne. Its far less affluent here and, in 2016, 62 of people voted to leave. The sleeth family are in the minority here, they are all remainers, but they think that proroguing parliament is the right thing to do. Theres so much messing about. This has been dragging on and dragging on. We cannot. Nobody can settle to do anything, so i think it is probably the best thing for all round, really. Im happy to go with the majority and if you can do something that is good for the country and he decides that we are going to suspend it to get the best decision for the country, then good on him. Just give him a chance. Let him do what he wants to do. Let him get on with the job and see what happens. And just like harborne, northfields high street has independent businesses who want certainty, however that is delivered. It makes a lot of difference to everyones livelihood because nobody wants to invest, no one wants to spend money, people are a bit wary. So once, either way, whatever happens, lets get it done and sorted so that people can get back to the normal routine. Three years ago the city was divided with just 1 of the vote splitting leavers and remainers. There is still division but increasingly there is exasperation too. So could there be a legal challenge to the suspension of parliament . Our Legal Correspondent has the answer to that he starts by explaining the legal challenge thats already taking place in scotland. There was due to be a hearing in that case which is seeking a ruling that case which is seeking a ruling that the proroguing of parliament is deemed unlawful and unconstitutional. A hearing was due to ta ke unconstitutional. A hearing was due to take place on the 6th of september but there has been an emergency motion to bring forward the hearing to tomorrow or friday and what is being sought to there is something called an interim, effectively an injunction, the scottish version, that would basically Keep Parliament rolling and have the effect of stopping this proroguing of parliament. Already have that challenge taking place in the scottish courts. We also know in england and Wales Gina Miller the business woman who famously took a successful legal challenge to the Supreme Court in relation to the exercising of prerogative powers by ministers in triggering article 50, she won that case and forced that to go to parliament. She has said she might be ready to bring a legal challenge. We could hearfrom her that it sounds will take place in england and wales. There could be other people who wish to bring a legal challenge. This is so big it is difficult to see it ending up anywhere else than at the uk Supreme Court. If the reaction in scotland proceeds and are successful it is difficult to see that this want in some way, because there is about to be an appeal of their successful, difficult to see it ending up anywhere other than the Supreme Court, if that happens it would be a huge constitutional case, bigger even than the article 50 case that gina miller won. The argument would go along these lines, that it could be argued that the proroguing parliament, the advice given by the Prime Minister to the queen to Prorogue Parliament was unlawful and unconstitutional because the constitutional principles and laws had been so misconceived and misapplied by the Prime Minister. This is the argument, that those principles that govern, the law that governs the exercise of the prerogative power by the queen is there to ensure the healthy running of our parliamentary democracy and this is being done for more of a political purpose. If, and i stress ifa political purpose. If, and i stress if a court was persuaded by those arguments, there could be a ruling that the exercise of the prerogative in the circumstances is unlawful. If that happens, there would be a simply huge constitutional crisis. There would be many people who would bea there would be many people who would be a thing for a cross that the courts had intervened in the process , courts had intervened in the process, there would be many others who would say it is an old saying, the ever so mighty, the law is above you, and that no one even the Prime Minister is above the law and if the courts make a ruling that ministers have acted unlawfully, ministers have acted unlawfully, ministers have to take a different decision. It would be simply huge, huge constitutional case. It would also have to take place at breakneck speed. The clock is really taking on this so if there was a legal challenge in england and wales, that would first have to go to the high court and there would have to be a ruling there and it could leapfrog to the Supreme Court. That would all have to take place in very quick time indeed. The scottish case could be rolled into that, it could if it went to the Supreme Court be heard separately. But my guess is that if this does all proceed it will be heard in one fell swoop by the uk Supreme Court in what would be an extraordinary, almost unprecedented legal case of massive constitution impotence. Lets go back to the Political Developments which are extraordinary this evening. In the past or we have news that Ruth Davidson the leader of the conservative party in scotland is considering her position. She is expected to make a statement tomorrow. The speculation is building that she will quit. According to reports in the Sun Newspaper today she has tried to juggle newspaper today she has tried to juggle motherhood with being a very high profile leader of the opposition in scotland and it has taken its toll. They are quoting a conservative source, all made more difficult with the current Political Climate where she has found herself at increasing odds with the new leadership in london. Ruth davidson of course opposes leaving the European Union without a literal agreement. She does not believe in a no deal brexit. So a statement expected from Ruth Davidson tomorrow but speculation building that she has on her way out. We will leave you with that thought and lots more coming on the six oclock news but right now lets take a look at the weather with darren. No sign of temperature is returning to the low 30s. Much more cloud and rain today. Where we did get the sunshine and temperatures rose to around the mid 20s and that is going to be a figure we will see again for south eastern parts of the uk. Always wetter for the north and west. Still some rain to clear away from east anglia and the south east of england as we head towards midnight. That will eventually move away and then clearer skies following her most areas. As the breeze picks up the more cloud to northern nouns in western scotland but a cool night. Noticeably is so towards the south east after it has been so warm and muggy of the past few nights. More comfortable start for thursday. I cooler start. Sunny start for much of england and wales. Clouding over. One or two showers towards west but a stronger wind it will push on more showers and of gnarled and particularly into scotland. Longer spells of rain in the north west where it will be 20. Temperature 17 through the central belt of scotland toa through the central belt of scotland to a height of 2a around london. Windy and wet towards the north and west of the uk. Entry of the pressure and development is going to be high around following into the atlantic. It will have waves and ripples in it. Enhancing. We have a Conveyor Belt of cloud and rain affecting Northern Ireland, much of scotla nd affecting Northern Ireland, much of scotland throughout friday. Of the rcn consisting of there will be a few showers into wales. South westerly winds, quite warm. Especially when the sun comes out. Further north will have cloud and rain which will continue overnight and into saturday. Could be as much as four inches of rain over the hills of dumfries and galloway. That restau ra nt hills of dumfries and galloway. That restaurant on saturday. It clears way for Northern Ireland. The rain pivots into wales and listening and full stops till driver is turning on. Those temperatures still into the mid 20s. Muscularfurther on. Those temperatures still into the mid 20s. Muscular further north and west. That is a sign of whats to come. That month of rain on the weather front tyre as it moves east, rain becomes lighter and patchy. It opens a door to a north westerly wind and thatll bring in so much cooler and fresher air. We will not sit everywhere on sunday. A lot of showers to come for the northern half of the uk. A few showers coming into southern parts of england and wales. Temperatures will be 19 or maybe 20. Further north only 1a or 00 57 36,327 4294966103 13 29,430 15 for glasgow and also for belfast