TAUNTON Deane MP Rebecca Pow says Boris Johnson's controversial plan to suspend Parliament ahead of the Brexit deadline still leaves 'good time' for MPs to consider the matter.

The Prime Minister has faced huge opposition to his plan to call an end to the Parliamentary session - known as prorogation - in September and October.

Government whip, Lord Young, has resigned in protest, saying the move risks 'undermining the fundamental role of Parliament', while Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn said it was 'a smash and grab on our democracy', with First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, saying Mr Johnson was acting like 'some kind of tinpot dictator'.

But Ms Pow said the move would allow the PM to put forward his agenda.

“The decision to end the current parliamentary session will enable the Prime Minister to put a fresh domestic programme in front of MPs for debate and scrutiny while also ensuring that there is good time before and after the European Council for Parliament to further consider Brexit issues," she said.

"Votes on the Queens Speech are likely to fall on Monday and Tuesday, October 21 and 22. It is the top priority of the Government to bring forward a new bold and ambitious legislative agenda: helping the NHS, fighting violent crime, investing in infrastructure and connectivity, which is important for the South West as is strengthening public services and cutting the cost of living.

"A good start has already been made increasing funding for 20,000 extra police officers, new investment in the NHS and strong environmental commitments.

"It will be important that Parliament is sitting both before and after the European Council and if a deal with the EU is forthcoming, (I very much hope it will be); Parliament will then have the opportunity to pass the Withdrawal Agreement Bill required for ratification ahead of October 31.”

She was joined in backing the move by Leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg, who hit back at the PM's critics saying the outpouring of outrage it triggered was "phoney".

He said: "I think the outrage is phoney and it is created by people who don't want us to leave the European Union and are trying very hard to overturn the referendum result and don't want the benefits of leaving the European Union."

He added: "Parliament wasn't going to be sitting for most of this time anyway. This is completely constitutional and proper."

Somerset County Gazette:

CLAIMS: Leader of the House of Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg

Meanwhile, shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner said the Government was 'lying' about reasons for the suspension and that the move would harm bids to prevent a no-deal Brexit by MPs.

"It is going to be extremely difficult," he said. "That's why the Government is disingenuous to say this is not about trying to stop us doing that.

"We will be seeking measures on Monday to try and have what is known as a Standing Order Section 24 debate. We will seek to try and put through the appropriate legislation in this constrained timetable that the Government has now put before us.

"Downing Street is lying when it claims this is about the conference recess.

"If he wanted to get on with his domestic agenda, he would in fact be having a shorter period of prorogation."

And Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Taunton Deane, Gideon Amos, said Boris Johnson was acting 'more and more like Charles I' and that the move was 'anti-democratic on a grand scale'.