Boris Johnson’s attempt to override democracy must be defeated

The best rebuke to the prime minister’s underhand manoeuvre would be to ensure that he does not succeed in taking Britain out of the European Union without a deal

Johnson’s manipulation of the parliamentary timetable may paradoxically strengthen the resolve of his opponents (Getty)

The prime minister’s suspension of parliament for five weeks in the middle of the Brexit crisis is devious and undemocratic. For Boris Johnson to pretend that this is a normal procedure, and that it has nothing to do with our planned departure from the European Union, is disingenuous.

There is no question that his motive is to try to frustrate the majority in the House of Commons that is opposed to leaving the EU without agreement. The best rebuke to Mr Johnson’s underhand manoeuvre would be to ensure that he does not succeed.

We should be grateful for small mercies, we suppose, in that Mr Johnson is not attempting what had been widely feared – namely to suspend parliament altogether until after the end of October.