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Brexit: Government tries to suspend Parliament

Brexit: Government asks Queen to suspend Parliament

Prime minister Boris Johnson is expected to ask Queen Elizabeth II to suspend Parliament days after MPs return to work -and a matter of weeks before the Brexit deadline.

Boris Johnson said a Queen's Speech would take place after the suspension, on 14 October, to outline his "very exciting agenda". But it means MPs are unlikely to have time to pass laws to stop a no-deal Brexit on 31 October.

Also on the programme: Purdue Pharma, the opioid drug-maker owned by the billionaire Sackler family, is reported to be offering between $10bn and $12bn to settle thousands of lawsuits against it; and a report from Altamira in the heart of the Amazon where wildfires continue.

Picture: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Credit: REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

53 minutes

Broadcast

  • Wed 28 Aug 2019 09:06GMT

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