Stone hails vote against suspension of parliament
North MP Jamie Stone has welcomed the result of a vote in the House of Commons that makes it harder for any prime minister to suspend parliament.
Conservative Party leadership contender Boris Johnson had said he would consider proroguing parliament in order to force through a no-deal Brexit and take the UK out of the European Union.
Mr Johnson's comments were in response to the number of failed attempts by outgoing prime minister Theresa May to get her deal, negotiated with the EU, though parliament.
His rival for the leadership, Jeremy Hunt, has said he would not suspend parliament in the event of him becoming PM.
In a vote in the House of Commons this week, a majority of 41 approved an amendment that blocks suspension between October 9 and December 18 unless a Northern Ireland executive – in suspension since early 2017 – is formed.
Mr Stone, the Liberal Democrat MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, said: "These votes were a milestone victory in blocking Boris from trampling on our democracy.
"No prime minister should be able to prorogue parliament to force something through against parliament’s will and these votes are an important part in stopping Boris doing this.
"A no-deal Brexit would be a disaster for the Highlands and must be stopped.
"The only real way out of this chaos is a People's Vote, with the option to stay in the EU, and the Liberal Democrats will keep fighting as we have done today to make this a reality."
