LONDON — U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has asked the Queen to prorogue Parliament. Here's what that means and why it's important.<br /><br />According to The Guardian, prorogation is a formal mechanism to end a session of parliament. When this happens, the House of Commons is suspended, and any unfinished legislation from the current session stops progressing.<br /><br />Prorogation must be approved by the Queen, following guidance from her Privy Council. It typically lasts only a short time, with the start of a new session marked by a speech from the Queen detailing the government's new agenda.<br /><br />While these proceedings are normal and happen yearly, the five-week prorogation requested by Boris Johnson is unusually long.<br /><br />It is set to begin no earlier than September 9 and no later than September 12, and will last until October 14.<br /><br />With the Brexit deadline set for October 31, MPs have just a little over two weeks to scrutinize Johnson's Brexit plans. Such a long prorogation would likewise restrict MPs from pushing legislation to block a no-deal Brexit.<br /><br />Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has called Johnson's move a "smash and grab" on the country's democracy.<br /><br />The BBC reports that hundreds protested the prorogation outside Westminster Wednesday night, with more demonstrations slated over the weekend.<br /><br />More than a million have also signed a petition appealing for parliament not to be prorogued.
