PRESS RELEASE: Johnson bucks democracy while Anne Milton looks on blithely.

Yesterday the Queen agreed Boris Johnson's demand to suspend Parliament and thereby deny democratic debate at one of the most critical times in our country's history.

Zöe Franklin, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Guildford, responded:

"Shutting Parliament to force through a No Deal Brexit is an absolutely unacceptable course of action that I and the Liberal Democrats strongly oppose. This action shows that Boris Johnson and the Conservative government have no respect for the people of the UK, the sovereignty of parliament or the democracy they claim to serve.

I welcome Tuesday's cross-party Church House Declaration that states:

Shutting down Parliament would be an undemocratic outrage at such a crucial moment for our country, and a historic constitutional crisis. Any attempt to prevent Parliament sitting, to force through a no deal Brexit, will be met by strong and widespread democratic resistance. We pledge to work together across parties and across our nations to do whatever is necessary to ensure that the people's voice is able to be heard.

I note with deep concern that Conservative Anne Milton, our current MP, appears not to have signed the Church House Declaration - this can only mean she is willing to condone Boris Johnson as he lurches the party further to the right?

Whether you voted leave or remain in the referendum this is not the government or behaviour our country voted for. Our democracy is under attack and parliament has not taken back control, instead it is being taken away from us.

I am ready to stand with the people of the UK, parliamentary colleagues of every party and the MPs who signed the Church House Declaration as 'strong and widespread democratic resistance' looks like becoming necessary"

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