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Official HOC briefing: "Prorogation being a prerogative power, there is no obvious legal mechanism by which Parliament could prevent its exercise otherwise than by passing legislation to constrain it." 🤔 🤔 🤔 researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefi…
And if that fills you with dread already, check out section 2.2 of the full briefing, which can be paraphrased as "hello constitutional crisis, my old friend..."
researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-…
researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-…
One massive wrinkle is hidden in 2.3, in that invocation of the Civil Contingency Act 2004 could trigger the un-prorogation of Parliament. Now that power can be wielded by Ministers in exceptional circumstances. Could one such circumstance be "to see off actions of a rogue PM"?
I have no idea. Not a clue. But it gives you an idea of the stakes involved.
Let's follow this slippery slope to its ultimate conclusion:
IF Ministers could invoke the CCA 2004 to cancel prorogation, and if the PM were hellbent on maintaining prorogation, what happens if the PM fires every Minister? Ministerial positions, after all, are in the PM's gift!
IF Ministers could invoke the CCA 2004 to cancel prorogation, and if the PM were hellbent on maintaining prorogation, what happens if the PM fires every Minister? Ministerial positions, after all, are in the PM's gift!
Hollywood scriptwriters, my cut of the gross is very reasonable indeed. 😉
