High street protesters join backlash against Johnson suspending parliament
PROTESTERS gathered on Lymington high street today (Friday) to demonstrate against Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s move to suspend parliament.
Set up outside the old post office building with signs reading “I’m standing up for democracy” and “No to prorogation”, the group encouraged passers-by to stand with them in solidarity for as little as five minutes.
The action follows local Conservative MPs Sir Chris Chope, Sir Desmond Swayne and Julian Lewis coming out in support of Mr Johnson’s planned decision to suspend parliament, which is being challenged in the courts.
Protester Jennie Worsedale, from Lymington, said: “We are here today protesting about the prorogation of parliament which we believe is profoundly undemocratic.
“We know that prorogation is a normal part of parliament but Boris has suspended it in order, we believe, to suppress MPs’ ability to argue against his proposals, specifically of a no-deal Brexit.
“We want to make our point and provide people with an opportunity to express their agreement or disagreement with us. We have had a lot of people who have been very supportive and wished us the best who are very upset by what is going on.”
Another protester, Bronwen Bridges, who has lived in the town for 36 years, said: “I am really worried that when democracy begins to be eroded like this that’s just the beginning of a potentially very nasty process and that is why I want to stand up today to protest it.
“Although we have had some very pleasant responses in support of what we are doing we have also had some quite aggressive comments shouted out at us by people who say that they’re supporting Boris but we are actually standing up for democracy itself.”
She added: “This isn't even party political and it isn't even about Brexit, we are protesting against the prorogation of parliament specifically.”
Stuart Nunday, also from Lymington, said: “Once we heard on Tuesday evening that parliament had been frozen we couldn’t believe it and our reaction was that someone has to do something about it so our small, dignified protest is our way of responding to it.
“We really hope to raise some awareness between lots of additional people locally who can then maybe chose themselves to write to their MP or protest in their own fashion.
“At the very least we hope to demonstrate that this move to suspend parliament is not in our name and that the country as a totality may not be prepared to go along with Boris and what the government is trying to do.”
As reported in the A&T, Lymington MP Sir Desmond, of New Forest West, said the action of Mr Johnson was “entirely appropriate” so the new Prime Minister could bring forward a Queen’s Speech of his legislative agenda.
Some have estimated as many as six days could be lost, but Sir Desmond said: “Three sitting days are going to be lost. There will be plenty of time for all those seeking to prevent Brexit to carry on with their machinations.”
