Thread by @alanjrenwick

I argue in the @Telegraph that Boris Johnson's prorogation of parliament violates both basic constitutional principles and fundamental tenets of conservatism. Key points for those of you frustrated by the paywall:

THREAD (1/12)

telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/…

The centrepiece of the UK's constitutional system is our democratically elected parliament. It has an essential role in scrutinizing government. Without it, we risk getting demagoguery, not democracy. (2/12)

A referendum, especially one that leaves the detail to be worked out later, doesn't change that. Proper democratic accountability is needed throughout the process. In the absence of another election or referendum, only parliament can provide it. (3/12)

Further, our constitution is uncodified, and in parts unwritten: many of the rules reside in tradition, not fixed legal text. That allows those rules to adapt organically to changing times. But it also requires those in power to abide by the basic, unwritten principles. (4/12)

Government is proroguing parliament to avoid normal parliamentary scrutiny of its actions. The Prime Minister is seeking to circumvent the possible parliamentary majority against his chosen course of action. (5/12)

(Quick digression: I've had a few comments suggesting today's decision is trivial, as parliament was going off for the conference recess anyway. This is wrong. (1) Recess is not prorogation. Lots of parliamentary business goes on in recess. Everything stops in prorogation. (6/12)

(2) Parliament gets to vote on whether to go into recess. It looked increasingly likely that parliament might vote against it. So, no, today's decision does make a big difference.) (7/12)

In proroguing parliament, Johnson is not only undermining our democratic process by silencing parliament, but also abusing the basic character of the uncodified constitution. (8/12)

There's no modern UK precedent for proroguing to block parliament's will, or for so long, or at such a fraught time, when a functioning parliament is essential. And all this when the PM has been subject to parliamentary scrutiny for just one of his first 40 days in office. (9/12)

Most remarkably, this is being done by a Conservative PM. Conservatives generally laud our uncodified constitution and celebrate that our elected representatives are reasonable enough to make it work. (10/12)

But if norms and traditions aren't respected, they cease to exist. Future governments of different hues may be similarly cavalier, or write down new rules that shift the country from its organic constitutional tradition. (11/12)

So there's nothing normal - or trivial - about Johnson's move. It has profound implications for our constitution and democracy. Progressives may seize the opportunity to cast our democratic system afresh. It's astonishing that more Conservatives are not deeply perturbed. (12/12)

I'll be on @BBCWorldatOne on @BBCRadio4 around 1.15 to discuss prorogation and the constitution. See the thread here for a flavour of what I might say.